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Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
(a) Offense defined.--A person commits an offense if he harms or attempts to harm another or the tangible property of another by any unlawful act in retaliation for anything lawfully done in the official capacity of a prosecutor or judicial official.
(b) Grading.--The offense is a felony of the second degree if:
(1) The actor employs force, violence or deception or attempts or threatens to employ force, violence or deception upon the prosecutor or judicial official or, with the requisite intent or knowledge, upon any other person.
(2) The actor's conduct is in furtherance of a conspiracy to retaliate against a prosecutor or judicial official.
(3) The actor solicits another to or accepts or agrees to accept any pecuniary or other benefit to retaliate against a prosecutor or judicial official.
(4) The actor has suffered any prior conviction for any violation of this title or any predecessor law hereto or has been convicted under any Federal statute or statute of any other state of an act which would be a violation of this title if committed in this Commonwealth.
(5) The actor causes property damage or loss in excess of $1,000.
Otherwise, the offense is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(c) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:
“Judicial official.”Any person who is a:
(1) judge of the court of common pleas;
(2) judge of the Commonwealth Court;
(3) judge of the Superior Court;
(4) justice of the Supreme Court;
(5) magisterial district judge;
(6) judge of the Pittsburgh Magistrate's Court;
(7) judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court;
(8) judge of the Traffic Court of Philadelphia; or
(9) master appointed by a judge of a court of common pleas.
“Prosecutor.” Any person who is:
(1) an Attorney General;
(2) a deputy attorney general;
(3) a district attorney; or
(4) an assistant district attorney.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Pennsylvania Statutes Title 18 Pa.C.S.A. Crimes and Offenses § 4953.1. Retaliation against prosecutor or judicial official - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-18-pacsa-crimes-and-offenses/pa-csa-sect-18-4953-1/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
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