Because of a new law, Somerset County DA Jeff Thomas is no longer receiving a paycheck
Somerset County District Attorney Jeff Thomas is no longer receiving a paycheck for his position.
The Somerset County Commissioners acknowledged the formal suspension of District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas on Nov. 26 at their regular biweekly meeting. County solicitor Michael Barbera said the suspension of Thomas's pay and all benefits, including insurance, took effect Nov. 26 when First Assistant District Attorney Molly Metzgar was sworn in as the acting district attorney.
Act 88 of 2021, signed into law by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on Nov. 17, amended the state's county codes concerning qualifications for the office of district attorney. The act requires district attorneys to hold an active law license while in office.
Thomas's law license was suspended, which means he still has his license minus the privileges that go along with it. Thomas decided to go on a leave of absence to prepare for his case after state police brought sexual assault-related charges against him in September, according to his attorney, Ryan Tutera of Pittsburgh.
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On Oct. 27, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania listed his license as temporarily suspended. The disciplinary board does not issue information about the specifics of why a license is suspended.
Somerset County Salary Board members, who also met Tuesday, voted to pay Metzgar the same as what was being paid to Thomas, which is a little more than $7,000 per pay period. The board consists of the commissioners and Somerset County Treasurer Donna Matsko Schmitt.
In Somerset County, the district attorney is paid by the county with 65% of the salary being reimbursed by the state. Thomas's total pay for 2021 was scheduled to be $185,665.
The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association stated in a letter to Barbera, who received it Monday evening, that Metzgar "is entitled as a matter of law to receive the same compensation (as Thomas received)."
Follow Judy D.J. Ellich on Twitter at @dajudye.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Somerset County suspends pay of District Attorney Jeff Thomas
