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Just as Watergate was not a third-rate burglary but a scandal that hinted at a connection with the highest office in the land, the alleged political work done by two Orie sisters on state time has hinted at a link with one of the highest judicial posts in Pennsylvania -- the state Supreme Court seat won by their sister, Joan Orie Melvin, in 2009.

After all, it was for the benefit of then-Superior Court Judge Melvin that both Sen. Jane Orie and her sister Janine did the campaigning using state resources that they are charged with. While they face a criminal trial on Feb. 13, Justice Melvin has not been charged.

As with Watergate, the facts have surfaced slowly. The latest development came at a late December hearing on new charges filed against sister Janine, who is the justice's de facto office manager. Three former or current staff members of Justice Melvin testified that Janine Orie spent hours of work each week as the campaign unfolded doing political chores from the judicial office.

Did Justin Melvin not know this? Perhaps, but why she would not know raises reasonable suspicion and, unlike the Watergate scandal, no tape recordings are available as clues to help solve the puzzle.

But this week Pennsylvanians learned that Justice Melvin is the target of a grand jury investigation, as a letter last month informed her. She has yet to testify and is not charged, yet the probe changes everything.

Justice Melvin simply cannot go on as if this is business as usual. While her own presumption of innocence has not changed, her continuing presence on the high court does no service to the people of Pennsylvania or the venerable institution whose reputation she is supposed to uphold. Justice Melvin has already conceded half the point by recusing herself from cases involving the Allegheny County district attorney's office.

She must go further and take a leave of absence until this black cloud is cleared. If she won't go voluntarily while the grand jury tries to connect the all-too-prominent dots of this case, Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille should use his power to convene a four-member majority of the court to suspend her. To do less is to ignore the stain of shame and doubt that has now spread to its inner sanctum.

The Post-Gazette endorsed Justice Melvin in her 2009 race, and we do not urge this step on her as a reflexive critic, but as a newspaper that has praised her in the past. The praiseworthy thing for her now is to leave the court, not forever necessarily, but until this serious matter is resolved.

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