A jailed Lansford councilman appeared before Carbon County President Judge Roger Nanovic Thursday morning regarding his future on borough council.

The judge ruled he doesn’t have one.

Nanovic ruled that Lansford Borough Council’s vice president, Jay Doyle, is unqualified to hold office and ordered his removal from office.

Doyle is serving 42 to 84 months in state prison for a 2023 felony assault that left a man hospitalized for five weeks. He is lodged in the State Correctional Facility in Waymart, Wayne County.

Carbon County District Attorney Michael Greek filed a quo warranto complaint to remove Doyle from office on Jan. 15.

In May, borough residents questioned Doyle’s status during a council meeting, since the municipal body had been down one person since October following his sentencing and subsequent incarceration.

Due to Doyle being moved to different state facilities following his incarceration, the paperwork wasn’t served until April 15 and management conference on the case was held in county court last month.

Doyle, who represented himself, appeared in court via video conferencing from state prison.

He did not present any evidence during the hearing, but acknowledged that he was unable to continue serving on council, but would not voluntarily resign the position.

Doyle did not meet the burden of proving his right to continue in office, Judge Nanovic’s verdict stated.

“He is permanently prohibited from occupying or holding himself out as occupying such office,” Nanovic wrote. “And is further disqualified from holding any other office of trust in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

The prothonotary’s office will enter judgment on the decision if no motion for posttrial relief has been filed within 10 days of this decision.

Once the decision is final, council will have 30 days to appoint a replacement to serve out Doyle’s term, which ends this year.

If council does not appoint someone in 30 days, the matter goes to the borough vacancy board, which then has 15 days to act before the court can be petitioned to act on an appointment.