Jailing the Johnstown Judge: Joe O'Kicki, the Mob and Corrupt Justice

by Bruce Siwy

In 1988, Judge Joe O'Kicki was regarded by his peers as one of the most brilliant legal minds in the United States. He was newly re-married, sworn in as the president judge of a Pennsylvania county and on the fast track to a federal bench.... Silently, however, a state police vice unit was in the midst of covert operation into O'Kicki's personal affairs. The judge would be accused of soliciting bribes, frequenting brothels and running the county as if he were a "battleship commander.'? Later he'd concoct a plan to flee the country and exact revenge on his enemies. Set in the aftermath of the 1977 Johnstown flood and including courtroom testimony, the memos of whistleblowers, contemporary interviews and excerpts from O'Kicki's unfinished tell-all memoir, "Jailing the Johnstown Judge'? is a fresh examination of the extraordinary Western Pennsylvania case that attained international infamy.

144 pages, Paperback

Published October 10, 2022

Reviews

[George Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bruce Siwi has written an excellent book dealing with one of Cambria County's most colorful characters. Judge O'Kicki at the time of his legal issues was the President Judge of Cambria County which is located in the Laurel Highlands section of Pennsylvania. Local public thoughts about O'Kicki were mixed. Some regarded him as another politician caught with hands in the 'ol cookie jar. Other regarded him as a crusading figure attempting to clean up corruption, injustice and other dirty or misguided political deeds. One point I find fascinating is this: O'Kicki had 7 daughters who never commented about their dad and the legal issues. And his ex-wife never said a word about this entire situation. O'Kicki fled our country to Slovenia before the final verdict was issued. O'Kicki worked there helping various individuals before cancer slowed him and eventually claiming his life on December 2, 1996. O'Kicki was buried in Slovenia. Intriguing rumors persist without validation or support that O'Kicki returned to the US and eventually died and was buried here. A fascinating look back at Judge Joseph O'Kicki.