Pa. district judge accused of viewing porn in office

A district judge in Monroe County was charged in a Judicial Conduct Board complaint Wednesday with viewing porn in his office and using clerks to perform personal business.

Magisterial District Judge Michael R. Muth, 66, whose office is located about 38 miles southeast of Scranton in East Stroudsburg, allegedly was viewing porn when clerks on different occasions walked in him. Two of the three clerks were identified as female in the complaint, which is now before the Court of Judicial Discipline.

One of the women entered his chambers and saw him allegedly watching a video of two nude females engaged in sexual activity.

"Judge Muth made no effort to obstruct [her] view of the video, nor did he attempt to stop or hide the video," the complaint states.

In a deposition before the board, Muth acknowledged that there was pornography visible on his computer when his clerks were present, according to the complaint.

Muth is accused of subjecting the clerks to sexual harassment as a result and engaging "in conduct so extreme that it brought disrepute upon the judicial branch itself," the complaint states.

Muth also allegedly made his clerks during office hours grade examination papers for college courses he taught at East Stroudsburg University and used an office copier for course material.

He also acknowledged these activities in a board deposition, according to the complaint.