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: October 30, 2009

The Luzerne County Court en banc following two recent meetings, with 8 members attending, announces the following:

POSTAGE - NON-PAYMENT OF TRAFFIC FINES

District Magisterial Judges will be directed to assess actual postage costs in levying traffic violation fines.

JUDICIAL COVERAGE

Judge Muroski presented a calendar of court proceedings (for the Motions Judge) for November and December which need coverage. It was also noted that in any week a Senior Judge is not available, Protection From Abuse cases and Summary Appeals will also need to be covered.

CRIMINAL COURT 2010

Judge Olszewski provided Call of the List and Call Back dates for Criminal Trials for 2010.

TRIAL MASTER PROGRAM

Judge Musto gave a report on the disposition of civil cases from 2007 to the present. The large amount of civil and criminal cases in conjunction with two vacancies on the court is causing a backlog in civil cases ready for trial. Judge Augello reported when he was President Judge the backlog of civil cases was eradicated by assignment of seven judges to civil cases. Judge Augello noted that there were not as many criminal cases as there are at the present time. Musto suggested that the Trial Master Program adopted by order of former President Judge Patrick J. Toole, Jr. be resurrected and that the bar be made aware of the present situation to seek their help in disposing of civil cases. The judges agreed that Musto be allowed to speak on this topic at the Bench Bar Conference on November 5, 2009.

MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGES (MDJ)

The Magisterial District Judges (MDJ) requested a change in duty hours and presented a proposed order to Judge Muroski. A concern expressed at the meeting was the lack of twenty-four hour coverage for arraignments. The item was tabled pending receipt of further information, including a presentation by a representative of the MDJ.

ANTI-NEPOTISM POLICY

The question of an anti-nepotism policy was raised at the meeting. The Court agreed to review Section 305 of the Human Resource Policy and Procedure Manual of the Court, which provides “the court shall avoid hiring, transferring, assigning, or promoting relatives of supervisors, where an employee within a court department would be supervised within the department by a relative.” Judges are to present proposed amendments at the next Court en banc meeting

DISTRICT COURT ADMINISTRATOR

To date, the Court en banc has interviewed six (6) applicants for the position of District Court Administrator, with Joseph Mittleman, Director of Judicial Programs for the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, in attendance. Further interviews will be conducted, as scheduled by Mr. Mittleman.