Jane Orie
Encyclopedia
Jane Clare Orie is an American politician who currently serves in the Pennsylvania State Senate
. She represents the 40th senate district
, including portions of Allegheny County
and Butler County
. She is a Republican
. She was the Majority Whip
in the Senate until April 7, 2010, when she stepped down from that post following her indictment on criminal charges.
to a prominent western Pennsylvania political family. Her sister Joan Orie Melvin
was a judge on the Superior Court of Pennsylvania
and is now serving as a Justice on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. She earned her B.A. from Franklin and Marshall College in 1984 and her J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law
in 1987. Prior to elective office, Orie served as an assistant district attorney in Allegheny County
and later as a deputy state attorney general.
for the 28th House District
after incumbent representative Elaine Farmer dropped off the ballot to fight bone marrow cancer. Orie won that November and won re-election in 1998 and 2000.
In 2000, State Senator Melissa Hart was elected to the United States House of Representatives
and resigned her Senate seat. In a special election Orie was the GOP nominee against Democrat James Rooney, a grandson of late Pittsburgh Steelers
owner, Art Rooney
. A key issue in that race was public funding for the new Steelers stadium, Heinz Field
, which was unpopular in parts of the county. Orie tried to tie Rooney to this unpopular issue, even running a television advertisement depicting the implosion of Three Rivers Stadium
. Orie defeated Rooney with 59% in the election on March 11, 2001 and was seated on April 3, 2001. Orie won re-election in 2002 and 2006, both times taking more than 70% against minimal opposition.
In May 2006, Robert Jubelirer
and David Brightbill, the Republicans' two top leaders were defeated in the primary election
, victims of the legislative pay raise
fallout. Senator Jeffrey Piccola
left his post as whip to run for President Pro Tempore
. This opened the door for Orie who defeated Sen. John Gordner
for the position.
A story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
alleged that the core of the investigation involves the employment of one of her district offices for campaign purposes. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09359/1023650-454.stm
Orie has hired criminal defense lawyer Jerry McDevitt to handle her defense http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/80045837.html.
The Post-Gazette subsequently reported that a University of Pittsburgh student intern had told prosecutors of widespread political campaigning inside the office on behalf of Orie's sister, Judge Melvin. The story also revealed the Orie's chief of staff had begun cooperating with investigators http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10006/1026065-454.stm.
indicted Orie and her sister, Janine Orie, on multiple charges of corruption. Pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 19, both defendants were released on their own recognizance, but they are prohibited from having non-business contacts with any of the witnesses in the case.http://kdka.com/local/Jane.orie.indictment.2.1617095.html
A trial date of Feb. 7, 2011 has been set for the criminal trial of Sen. Orie and her sister, Janine. http://www.postgazette.com/pg/10260/1088258-100.stm However, Judge Jeffrey Manning declared a mistrial for both the Senator and her sister upon learning that evidence submitted by the defense had been doctored. A new trial date has been set for April 11, although Senator Orie's lawyer has announced his intent to appeal the decision on the grounds that it would be trying the senator for the same crime twice.
Under Senate rules, a member who is charged with an offense related to his or her official duties must vacate any leadership position. Accordingly, following her indictment, Orie resigned from her position as whip in the Republican caucus.
Pennsylvania State Senate
The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
. She represents the 40th senate district
Pennsylvania Senate, District 40
Pennsylvania's 40th Senatorial district includes parts of Allegheny County and Butler CountyAllegheny County*Hampton Township, Pennsylvania*Marshall Township, Pennsylvania*McCandless Township, Pennsylvania*Pine Township, Pennsylvania...
, including portions of Allegheny County
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
and Butler County
Butler County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 174,083 people, 65,862 households, and 46,827 families residing in the county. The population density was 221 people per square mile . There were 69,868 housing units at an average density of 89 per square mile...
. She is a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. She was the Majority Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
in the Senate until April 7, 2010, when she stepped down from that post following her indictment on criminal charges.
Early life and education
Orie was born in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
to a prominent western Pennsylvania political family. Her sister Joan Orie Melvin
Joan Orie Melvin
Joan Orie Melvin is a Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. She was born in Pittsburgh to a prominent Western Pennsylvania political family. Her sister, Jane Orie, is a Republican state senator, who until April 2010 served as the Majority Whip.-Education:...
was a judge on the Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Superior Court of Pennsylvania
The Superior Court of Pennsylvania is one of two Pennsylvania intermediate appellate courts, the other being the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Appeal to the Superior Court is generally of right from final decisions of the Court of Common Pleas...
and is now serving as a Justice on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. She earned her B.A. from Franklin and Marshall College in 1984 and her J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law
Duquesne University School of Law
Duquesne University School of Law is a private Catholic university law school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The School of Law was founded in 1911, and is the only multiple-division law school in western Pennsylvania. Located on the Duquesne University campus, the law school is walking...
in 1987. Prior to elective office, Orie served as an assistant district attorney in Allegheny County
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
and later as a deputy state attorney general.
Career
In 1996, Orie ran for the Pennsylvania House of RepresentativesPennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
for the 28th House District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 28
The 28th Pennsylvania House of Representatives District is located in Allegheny County and includes the following areas:* Bradford Woods* Franklin Park ** Ward 01 [PART, Divisions 02 and 03]** Ward 02 [PART, Division 02]** Ward 03* Marshall Township...
after incumbent representative Elaine Farmer dropped off the ballot to fight bone marrow cancer. Orie won that November and won re-election in 1998 and 2000.
In 2000, State Senator Melissa Hart was elected to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and resigned her Senate seat. In a special election Orie was the GOP nominee against Democrat James Rooney, a grandson of late Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
owner, Art Rooney
Art Rooney
Arthur Joseph "Art" Rooney, Sr. , often referred to as "The Chief", was the founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers American football franchise in the National Football League.-Family history:...
. A key issue in that race was public funding for the new Steelers stadium, Heinz Field
Heinz Field
Heinz Field is a stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home to the Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh Panthers American football teams, members of the National Football League and National Collegiate Athletic Association respectively...
, which was unpopular in parts of the county. Orie tried to tie Rooney to this unpopular issue, even running a television advertisement depicting the implosion of Three Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000. It was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's Major League Baseball franchise and National Football League franchise respectively.Built as a replacement to...
. Orie defeated Rooney with 59% in the election on March 11, 2001 and was seated on April 3, 2001. Orie won re-election in 2002 and 2006, both times taking more than 70% against minimal opposition.
In May 2006, Robert Jubelirer
Robert Jubelirer
Robert C. Jubelirer is a Republican Pennsylvania political leader. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1975 to 2006, and simultaneously served as the President pro tempore of the Pennsylvania State Senate and Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania between 2001 and...
and David Brightbill, the Republicans' two top leaders were defeated in the primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
, victims of the legislative pay raise
2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise controversy
In the early morning hours of July 7, 2005, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed pay increases for state lawmakers, judges, and top executive-branch officials. The vote took place at 2 a.m. without public review or commentary and Governor Ed Rendell signed the bill into law...
fallout. Senator Jeffrey Piccola
Jeffrey Piccola
Jeffrey E. Piccola is member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, representing the 15th State Senate District. He is in the Republican Party.Piccola is a 1970 graduate of Gettysburg College, and a 1973 graduate of George Washington University Law School. From 1973 to 1974, he served in the United...
left his post as whip to run for President Pro Tempore
President pro tempore
A President pro tempore is a constitutionally recognized officer of a legislative body who presides over the chamber in the absence of the normal presiding officer...
. This opened the door for Orie who defeated Sen. John Gordner
John Gordner
John R. Gordner is an American politician in the state of Pennsylvania. He currently serves in the Pennsylvania State Senate and represents the 27th senatorial district. His district includes all of Montour County, Snyder County, Northumberland County, Columbia County and parts of Dauphin County...
for the position.
Allegations of impropriety
Authorities seized thousands of computer records from one of Orie's district offices in mid-December 2009, as part of an investigation conducted by Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala, Jr. Zappala would not disclose to the public a reason for investigating Orie. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09358/1023337-454.stmA story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
alleged that the core of the investigation involves the employment of one of her district offices for campaign purposes. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09359/1023650-454.stm
Orie has hired criminal defense lawyer Jerry McDevitt to handle her defense http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/80045837.html.
The Post-Gazette subsequently reported that a University of Pittsburgh student intern had told prosecutors of widespread political campaigning inside the office on behalf of Orie's sister, Judge Melvin. The story also revealed the Orie's chief of staff had begun cooperating with investigators http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10006/1026065-454.stm.
Criminal prosecution
In April 2010, an Allegheny County grand juryGrand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
indicted Orie and her sister, Janine Orie, on multiple charges of corruption. Pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 19, both defendants were released on their own recognizance, but they are prohibited from having non-business contacts with any of the witnesses in the case.http://kdka.com/local/Jane.orie.indictment.2.1617095.html
A trial date of Feb. 7, 2011 has been set for the criminal trial of Sen. Orie and her sister, Janine. http://www.postgazette.com/pg/10260/1088258-100.stm However, Judge Jeffrey Manning declared a mistrial for both the Senator and her sister upon learning that evidence submitted by the defense had been doctored. A new trial date has been set for April 11, although Senator Orie's lawyer has announced his intent to appeal the decision on the grounds that it would be trying the senator for the same crime twice.
Under Senate rules, a member who is charged with an offense related to his or her official duties must vacate any leadership position. Accordingly, following her indictment, Orie resigned from her position as whip in the Republican caucus.
External links
- State Senator Jane Orie official PA Senate website