Community Corner

Kerns' Preliminary Hearing Rescheduled, Judge Recuses Himself from Case

Robert Kerns, 66, is accused of drugging and raping a former paralegal in October.

The preliminary hearing for Robert Kerns, the former Montgomery County Republican Committee chairman and an Upper Gwynedd Township attorney, has been rescheduled to Dec. 20 at 1:30 p.m. It has been continued twice, and was previously scheduled for Dec. 16.
In addition, the case will not be heard by Blue Bell District Court Judge Robert Sobeck, as he has been approved for a recusal. 
According to The Bucks County Courier Times, Sobeck, a Republican, received approval from Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge William Furber to recuse himself from the hearing. It is unknown why Sobeck had requested the recusal.
A district judge from outside Montgomery County will be assigned to the case.
Kerns, 66, is free on $100,000 cash bail since Nov. 27. His bail was set by Sobeck at 10 percent of $1 million.
Kerns has retained attorney Brian McMonagle of Philadelphia, according to court records.
The case is being prosecuted by Samantha Cauffman.
Kerns has also left his law firm and the firm has been dissolved and renamed.
Read more on the Kerns case at this link.


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