Luzerne County Courts

From: Chester B. Muroski, President Judge on behalf of all members of the 11th Judicial District of Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County

MEDIA RELEASE: February 13, 2009

Luzerne County Court en banc has achieved a total of $2.8 million dollars in personnel-related cost cuts from the 2009 Court Budget attributable to staff reductions which took place this week. The salary reductions alone amount to just over $2 million dollars and impact a total of 53 positions within the Court system.

The latest round of reductions, which occurred Wednesday and Thursday of this week, include the following: Director of Probation Services, the Fiscal Officer in Probation, the Administrator of Specialty Courts and Alternative Sentencing, one solicitor in Probation Services along with 11 Probation officers and four clerical support personnel.

Other positions have been furloughed, as follows: one conflict counsel to the Orphans’ Court, three law clerks, one executive secretary, a legal researcher and an assistant solicitor. Total staff reductions to date are twenty-seven (27).. A list of those staff persons who were separated is attached.

Also, six currently vacant positions in Probation Services and eight in Court Administration and the Magisterial Court System will not be filled.

The latest action also reduces the salary of the Chief Court Stenographer by $10,850 and the Case Manager in Probation by $12,345, partially rescinding raises that had been approved by the former President Judge.

The Court is also in the process of reorganizing all court operations, including conducting a review of Central Court, and is working with the County Budget and Finance Office to improve the Court’s ability to more closely monitor all court expenditures to ensure that the Court stays within the 2009 budget which was passed by the County Commissioners. The Court will continue to work closely with the Commissioners to ensure compliance with our mutual goal of fiscal responsibility.