PITTSBURGH, PA — Two brothers, one currently a professional athlete and the other a former athlete, have brought allegations of extortion against a Pennsylvania judge, claiming abuse of power within the state’s judicial system.
Walter Bernard, a Pittsburgh attorney, asserts that he was wrongfully arrested and publicly humiliated by Allegheny County Common Pleas Court Judge Philip A. Ignelzi.
The incident, which occurred on May 3, 2023, involved Bernard being forcibly removed from his home and detained for a day, an action he claims was orchestrated by Judge Ignelzi. The Bernard brothers initially filed a lawsuit in Pennsylvania federal court in August 2023, arguing that the judge targeted them unjustly.
The case has been litigated in state and federal courts and has recently advanced to the appellate level.
The Bernards continue to seek justice, challenging what they perceive as a misuse of judicial authority in a system they describe as corrupt.