Sheriff Bilal faces a contempt hearing over property auctions. Here is what Council has and hasn't done

Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal was due in Common Pleas Court on Thursday morning for a civil contempt hearing over how her office runs sheriff sales, the auctions of tax-delinquent and foreclosed properties, the Inquirer reported. The outcome was not known when this article was published.

Sheriff sales matter beyond the courtroom. Buyers wait on deeds, former owners wait on leftover money, and the city waits on taxes and utility bills paid out of the proceeds. Some buyers have waited a year or more for deeds, the Inquirer reported.

What the judge is weighing

Judge Paula Patrick, who supervises the court's commerce division, ordered the hearing Oct. 16. She is weighing whether the office failed to promptly pay out sale proceeds and deliver deeds, turn over financial records, and follow state rules and an earlier consent order, according to the Inquirer. The order says the proceeding is "not an accusation of criminal conduct." Bilal is not charged with a crime.

The timeline, as reported by the Inquirer:

• May: Patrick ordered records of every real estate sale since Bilal took office in 2020.
• August: Bilal agreed to six months of court-appointed supervision of the auctions.
• September: Her office backed out of that agreement, arguing the judge lacked authority for open-ended oversight. A senior deputy also disclosed that an audit found about $20 million in sale proceeds that had not been paid out, including tax and utility money owed to the city. The office later said that money was sent to the city.

Patrick has said a contempt finding could require the office to pay for a court-chosen forensic audit of its auctions. Bilal's lawyer, hired by the city, has argued the office turned over what it had and that some requested records did not exist. He also asked the court to keep her off the witness stand. Bilal did not respond to the paper's requests for comment.

Where Council stands

Abolishing the office would take a Council-approved Charter amendment and a vote of the people, the Inquirer reported Oct. 15. In that survey of members:

• Council President Kenyatta Johnson, Mark Squilla, Cindy Bass and Jim Harrity said they oppose abolition. Johnson said the office "probably is due for some reforms."
• Nicolas O'Rourke, Jamie Gauthier, Nina Ahmad and Isaiah Thomas said they were open to discussing it. Ahmad said "everything's on the table."
• Kendra Brooks said voters can decide when the office is on the ballot next year. Rue Landau wants its structure reviewed in the next budget cycle.

What our records add

• No bill on file. Our records of 2025 and 2026 legislation show no bill or Charter amendment to abolish, merge or restructure the sheriff's office. The Inquirer noted Council has never voted to send such a question to voters.
• A hearing that never happened. Resolution 250927, from Johnson with 11 sponsors, authorized a Public Safety Committee hearing on protections for domestic violence victims across the courts, the DA, police and the Sheriff's Office. It was adopted and referred Oct. 23, 2025. Our records show no hearing held in the 371 days since.
• The budget. The sheriff's office budget is about $35.8 million after Bilal's request for a more than 50% increase was reduced to a $146,000 increase, the Inquirer reported. That money is part of the fiscal 2027 operating budget, Bill 260199, which passed 17-0 on June 11.
• Council has a ceremonial record too. In March, Council adopted Resolution 260243 honoring the women of the Sheriff's Office for Women's History Month.

What's next

Watch for Judge Patrick's ruling and whether she orders a forensic audit. On the Council side, any change to the office would begin as a Charter-amendment resolution and bill. The next chance to question the office about its finances in public is next spring's budget hearings. Council's next sessions are Nov. 12 and Nov. 19.