On Monday, August 18, 2025, former Philadelphia Municipal Court judge Jimmie Moore was granted permission to resume practicing law in Pennsylvania. The state’s Supreme Court, in a divided decision, reinstated Moore’s law license, which was suspended after he admitted to accepting $90,000 to withdraw from a congressional election.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Jimmie Moore,” with case number 87 DB 2019.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court voted on Monday to approve Moore’s petition for reinstatement, with Judge P. Kevin Brobson dissenting. The decision followed an 8-3 recommendation from the state’s disciplinary board, which found that Moore demonstrated genuine remorse during his March 2024 reinstatement hearing. The board’s majority noted that Moore accepted full responsibility for his misconduct, acknowledging the negative impact on the legal profession, the judiciary, his family, and his community.
The disciplinary board’s report highlighted that Moore, 74, served his four-year suspension without incident and fulfilled his continuing legal education requirements. He also volunteered with multiple community organizations and presented eight witnesses who supported his reinstatement during a two-day hearing. Moore informed the board that he plans to maintain a limited legal practice, focusing on selective projects and pro bono work.
However, a dissenting opinion from disciplinary board member Joshua Wilson argued that Moore lacked the necessary competency, moral qualifications, and legal knowledge to resume practicing law. The dissent cited Moore’s responses during the reinstatement hearing and his questionnaire as evidence.
For instance, Moore owns a rental property occupied by family members but does not possess a required rental license to collect rent. Additionally, he received notices from the Philadelphia License and Inspections Appeal Board for Fire Code violations, despite his prior service on the board.
The dissent also pointed to Moore’s confusion about his license status before the suspension. Moore was listed as a retired attorney, ineligible to practice law or collect referral fees. Nevertheless, in 2017, he accepted over $8,600 for referring two cases. During the hearing, Moore stated he believed he was an active attorney at the time, a misunderstanding the dissent cited as evidence of his lack of competence.
Moore’s law license was suspended by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in March 2022, retroactive to May 2019, following his 2017 guilty plea for making false statements to election authorities. He admitted to accepting $90,000 from an associate of U.S. Rep. Bob Brady’s campaign to exit the 2012 Democratic primary race. No charges were filed against Brady.
According to the filing, Mr. Moore was admitted to the practice of law in Pennsylvania in 1976.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
