It’s not clear how public the panel will make its work.
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On September 21, Pennsylvania’s five state Supreme Court justices ordered Kane’s law license suspended.
Kane, for her part, has declared her intent to remain in office despite the license suspension, and has determined that she can perform the vast majority of her duties without interruption.
Another attorney, Robert S. Tintner, told the Intelligencer that Kane could be exposing herself to future prosecution by Pennsylvania’s Office of Disciplinary Counsel. The suspension took effect Thursday.
Kane, who’s serving her first term, is fighting the charges.
The committee’s report could recommend the use of an obscure constitutional provision that allows the governor and two-thirds of the Senate to remove certain public officials.
Scarnati, of Jefferson, and Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, each appointed three committee members, with Scarnati attached as an ex-officio member.
The body will be made up of three Republicans and three Democrats: John Gordner (chairman), Lisa Baker, Gene Yew, Judy Schwenk, Sean Wiley and Arthur Haywood III.
Bruce Ledewitz, a professor at Duquesne University School of Law, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the state Constitution requires the attorney general to be an attorney in good standing for a reason.
At least one committee member, Schwank, has already called for Kane to step down.
It will also determine if there’s enough evidence for a formal hearing and eventually a vote that could take Kane out of office.
Kane either can’t do the job we elected her to do – including making key decisions on which cases to pursue and how – or she has to violate the law to do it. That’s an untenable position.
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Kane’s lead defense attorney, Gerald Shargel, said Monday he intends to fight the removal effort, but could not yet say if that push-back will occur before or after the new committee releases its findings.
