Philly Hit With Second Suit Over Political Bias in Wills Office

The City of Philadelphia and John Sabatina, the city’s register of wills, are facing the second suit federal lawsuit in as many months from a former employee alleging violation of the First Amendment.

Stephanie Graham, a former administrative deputy in the Register of Wills Office, was fired by Sabatina on January 9, 2024, because she politically supported his opponent, Tracey Gordon, in the May 2023 Democratic primary election, her complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, says.

Last month, former employee Ian L. Ewing sued the city and Sabatina, making similar allegations of ...