found riding his horse while intoxicated. Justice Eakin wrote (in part): Due to the unorthodox way Justice Eakin pens his opinions, he has been criticized by his fellow Justices. In the 2002 New York Times article "Justices Call on Bench's Bard to Limit his Lyricism", Chief Justice Stephen A. Zappala was quoted as writing that "An opinion that expresses itself in rhyme reflects poorly on the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania." Justice Ralph J. Cappy was also quoted as stating that "Every jurist has the right to express him or herself in a manner the jurist deems appropriate, [but I am concerned about] the perception that litigants and the public at large might form when an opinion of the court is reduced to rhyme." However, Justice Eakin has justified his so-called "poetic justice" by stating that "[Y]ou have an obligation as a judge to be right, but you have no obligation to be dull." Presentations On July 7, 2007, Justice Eakin and Attorney Matthew A. Cartwright, of Munley, Munley and Cartwright, presented "Ethics Issues for Trial Lawyers" to the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Annual Convention in Hershey, Pennsylvania. On March 23, 2015, Justice Eakin gave a presentation entitled "The Piano Man as Judge, Juror and Prosecutor" as part of the Touro College of Law conference, "Billy Joel & The Law." Controversy In 2015, racist and misogynist emails Eakin received have been released by Kathleen Kane in her dispute with the judicial system. Only four emails were forwarded by Eakin. They were examined by the Judicial Conduct Board. Justice Eakin resigned on March 15, 2016. References External links Official Supreme Court Profile Eakin Profile from Judgepedia. 1948 births Living people Dickinson School of Law alumni County district attorneys in Pennsylvania Franklin & Marshall College alumni People from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania Justices of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania