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

MEDIA RELEASE: April 29, 2009

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

RANDOM ASSIGNMENT OF CIVIL CASES

Judge Musto reported that the computer software consultant has been working with Court Administrator, Jack Mulroy, and William Ostroskie, Management Information Analyst, to devise a software program for random assignment of civil cases. It is projected that a system should be made available for review by the court within two weeks.


JUVENILE CASES

The President Judge has been in communication with Judge Arthur Grim advising him that the necessary information ordered by the Supreme Court pursuant to Judge Grim’s recommendation has been compiled by Probation Services and is available for distribution upon receipt of the required confidentiality agreements from the necessary parties.

RETURNS OF CAPIAS

It was agreed that returns of capias by video from the Luzerne County Correctional Facility will be conducted by the Motions Judge on Mondays and Wednesdays at 1:15 p.m. and Fridays at 11:30 a.m.

SETTLEMENT/CONCILIATION CONFERENCES

The President Judge reported that volunteers from ADR Options will be conducting mandatory settlement/conciliation conferences on civil cases on May 26, 27, and 28, 2009.

CENTRAL COURT

The President Judge advised that the proposed modification to Central Court had been reviewed by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC) which advised that the new plan could be implemented by the Court.

Magisterial District Judges (MDJ) except in Wilkes-Barre City, will maintain sole jurisdiction of all criminal offenses occurring within their respective districts, with notices of formal arraignment or other Common Pleas Court appearances provided to each defendant, as needed. MDJ Kane’s and Amesbury’s districts encompassing Wilkes-Barre City will be consolidated into a city-wide Central Court with assistance from a Senior District Judge who will continue to arraign defendants lodged after-hours. The current staff of Central Court shall be reassigned.

The Magisterial District Judges were directed to propose an administrative order to implement the changes. Thereafter, upon receipt and evaluation and consideration, the Court will execute the administrative order modifying the present order governing Central Court to authorize the re-designation of the county-wide Central Court to a Wilkes-Barre City-wide Central Court to administer all criminal cases filed in Magisterial District Courts 11-1-01 and 11-1-02, and any other cases as assigned by the President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, wherein the best interest of judicial economy is served.

A vote was taken and the proposal was adopted with the changes effective July 31, 2009.

The court will continue to monitor cases so as to avoid delays in processing criminal cases.

FERRIS V. HARKINS

President Judge reported he had received an order from the Supreme Court directing him to assign a new judge for expedited disposition of pending motions. It was determined by the entire court to request the AOPC to provide a Senior Judge.

GENERAL JUDICIAL ASSIGNMENTS/PRIOR CASE RESPONSIBLITY

The President Judge reviewed the judicial assignments of cases and prior case responsibility with the Court en banc. It was agreed that the attached Order be entered reflecting assignments effective April 29, 2009 through December 31, 2009.

Pending equity cases will be placed on a call of the list with assignments rotated to available judges for settlement and pre-trial conferences and scheduling for bench trials, as necessary. The Civil Court Administrator has been tasked with preparation of the list and establishment of the call date so as not to conflict with the scheduling of both pending criminal and civil trials.