Judge Scott DiClaudio says accusations that he tried to influence a case are false

Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Scott DiClaudio shown in a 2019 photo. Read more JESSICA GRIFFIN / Staff Photographer

by Ellie Rushing Published Oct. 6, 2025, 7:29 p.m. ET

HARRISBURG ― Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Scott DiClaudio says the allegations that he attempted to influence a colleague’s decision in a criminal case are a complete misunderstanding.

At a hearing Monday before Pennsylvania’s Court of Judicial Discipline, DiClaudio took to the witness stand and said fellow Philadelphia Judge Zachary Shaffer had mischaracterized the conversation that now threatens his judgeship.

When Shaffer came to his courtroom in June, DiClaudio said, he mentioned a recent conversation he’d had with a man Shaffer was soon set to sentence.

Dwayne Jones had approached Di