Another Phila. Traffic Court Worker Testifies Under Immunity
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Another insider today detailed the practice of "consideration" in Philadelphia's now-defunct traffic court. Authorities say it was code for "ticket-fixing" (see related story).
Today, the personal assistant for defendant judge Robert Mulgrew took the witness stand.
Gloria McNasby testified that she believed "consideration" was a not-guilty verdict, or sometimes a suspension lifted, or other plea bargain. And, she indicated, it was done routinely.
According to McNasby, Judge Robert Mulgew got about 10 requests a week for consideration, and he sent several a week to other judges, including fellow judges Michael Sullivan, Willie Singletary, Robert Lowery, and Thomasine Tynes -- all now co-defendants and off the bench.
McNasby, a reluctant witness now testifying under a grant of immunity, initially lied to authorities because, she says, she was scared to death, had loyalty to her boss, and didn't want anything to happen to her.
But during cross-examination by Mulgrew's attorney, McNasby told the jury that Judge Mulgew treated everyone fairly, equally, and no requests for consideration came with money or concert tickets or anything of value. She says he wouldn't do that.
The defense contends there was no ticket-fixing, just judges excercising legal discretion.