In the beginning of the month, Governor Wolf made two appointments to the State Supreme Court. One appointee was a democrat and the other was a republican, and this pleased Senate Leadership.
Earlier this week, the Philadelphia Inquirer dropped a bombshell regarding Judge Thomas Kistler, the Republican appointee. The Inquirer reported that Kistler sent out a racially charged email during the 2013 holiday season. They reported:
The Inquirer reported Friday that an e-mail was sent in December 2013 under Kistler’s name titled “Merry Christmas From the Johnsons.” The message depicted a black man and a black woman during what appears to be a jail visit. The man, smiling and wearing an orange prison uniform, sits behind a glass window.
Forwarded with a subject line that read “Best Christmas card ever,” the message also includes cartoon depictions of Santa Claus and reindeer.
Of course, Kistler doesn’t remember sending out that email. I mean who would?
By doing some quick search engine sleuthing, the picture below titled “Merry Christman from the Johnsons” fits the Philadelphia’s Inquirer’s description. The judge admits that he forwarded the email with “no ill intent.” Just some good ol regular office humor around the holidays.
Governor Wolf must pull back Kistler’s nomination and find someone else to fill in that seat. It’s racially charged, and Kistler can not be trusted if an issue as important as Voter ID, which had large ramifications on the African American community, made it to the Supreme Court. This is a no-brainer, Kistler must go.
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