Luzerne County Courts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

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

The Luzerne County Court en banc, following its weekly meeting, announces the following:

CIVIL CASES

In an attempt to relieve the backlog of civil cases awaiting trial, particularly those of former Judge Mark Ciavarella, the civil bench has accepted an offer from Thomas Rutter, J.D., of ADR Options, to provide members of his organization, on a pro bono basis, to conduct Settlement Conferences in late-May or June of this year.

Counsel will be notified in the near future as to the date of their conferences and the mediator to whom they have been assigned.

This initiative is in keeping with the court’s stated objective to make every attempt to maintain the function of the court on a timely basis despite there being two judicial vacancies at the present time.

Other options are currently being explored to help expedite the flow of civil cases, including the use of Pro Temp judges and/or Special Trial Masters to conduct civil trials during the month of August. It was noted that a program adopted by then President Judge Patrick J. Toole, Jr., on April 22, 1993, allows for Special Trial Masters to conduct conciliation proceedings and trials at the direction of the Court and upon agreement of the parties.

Attorney Rutter’s letter to his colleagues is attached. When contacted yesterday, he indicated he had fifteen favorable replies.

JUVENILE COURT JUDGES’ COMMISSION

Judge Arthur E. Grim, Chairman of the Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission (JCJC), specially appointed by the Supreme Court to review the records of Juveniles affected by the conduct of the past Juvenile Court Judge, has offered the services of James E. Anderson, Executive Director of JCJC, to meet with J.J. Johnson, Luzerne County Deputy Chief Juvenile Probation Officer, to give any kind of assistance and guidance that may be helpful to him.

After discussion with Judge Lupas, we accepted this offer and so advised J.J. Johnson.

MOTIONS

The issue of disposition of motions when the Motions Judge is not available was discussed and it was agreed that the present Motions hours of 8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. will be strictly enforced. After 9:15 a.m. emergency motions must only be presented to the Motions Judge. If that Judge is not available, then the Motion should be presented to the Court Administrator who will assign the motion to another judge on a random basis.

The Acting Court Administrator has been directed to re-publish a notice in the Luzerne Legal Register that L.R.Civ.P. 206.4(c)(A) provides that a party seeking a Rule to Show Cause shall present the same along with the underling Motion/Petition, a comprehensive Brief and Proposed Order, to the Office of Court Administration. There is no requirement to present a Rule to Show Cause to Motions Court except where the moving party is seeking immediate relief in addition to the Rule to Show Cause and/or the relief requested has the effect of a stay.

CENTRAL COURT

All members of the court were referred to correspondence relating to Central Court. The President Judge explained he has met with all entities involved and explained their positions. After explaining a proposal that most agreed provided the best overall services to the police, victims, witnesses, the District Attorney and the Public Defender, it was agreed to submit same to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts for its approval. If approved, the proposal would then be submitted to the Court en banc for adoption. Correspondence available upon request.