A Pennsylvania family court judge has been placed on leave following allegations of assaulting his wife and daughter at their home. Michael Fanning faces charges including aggravated assault and strangulation. He was released on bail with restrictions on contact with his family.
Judge Michael Fanning, 60, has served on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas as a family court judge since 2014. On Monday, police in East Torresdale, Pennsylvania, arrested him after he allegedly assaulted his wife and 30-year-old daughter at their home.
Prosecutors reported that Fanning punched his wife in the face several times, threw her to the floor, and strangled her. He also allegedly yanked his daughter to the ground by her hair, causing an injury to her face. Fanning was released on $200,000 unsecured bail but ordered not to contact the family members involved.
On Tuesday, a bail magistrate issued an emergency protection-from-abuse order against Fanning, prohibiting contact with his wife or daughter. During the hearing, the magistrate warned that violating the order or appearing in court for another domestic violence case would result in bail increasing to $1 million.
The court suspended Fanning without pay on Thursday. A court spokesperson stated, "The court moved expeditiously to restrict Judge Fanning's access to the building and immediately reassigned all his cases."
Fanning pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated assault, two counts each of simple assault and recklessly endangering a person, and strangulation. His next court date is scheduled for March 25.