PITTSBURGH — Suspended Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin has opted not to testify at her campaign corruption trial.

As a result, the defense rested Wednesday and the jury will return Friday for closing arguments and legal instructions before they begin deliberating. The jury must decide whether the 56-year-old justice and her sister and aide, Janine Orie, 58, conspired to misuse state-paid employees for campaign work when Melvin ran for the Supreme Court in 2003 and 2009.

The decision was apparently made at the last minute, as Janine Orie’s attorney James DePasquale told The Associated Press before Wednesday’s luncheon recess that Melvin planned to take the stand.