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: February 3, 2009

Judge Muroski has been in contact with Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts concerning the employment status of District Court Administrator William T. Sharkey. It has been determined that Mr. Sharkey is immediately suspended without pay. All inquiries as to future course of action should be directed to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, Art Heinz, by telephone at 717-795-2000.

By agreement of the court en banc, the Court will immediately take the following action:

1. Vacate the conflict counsel pay scale as recently adopted by the former President Judge.
2. Gather and review all administrative orders, including Orders regarding employment of court employees issued by former President Judge Mark Ciavarella during the past sixty (60) days and determine if said orders were appropriately issued.
3. Determine whether every department head and department supervisor appointed by former president judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan should continue in their current position.
4. Advertise for the appointment of two (2) court appointees on the Luzerne County Correctional Facility Prison Board.
5. Arrange a public hearing on the feasibility of Central Court, with participation by members of this Court, representatives of the Magisterial District Court, the District Attorney and Public Defender’s Offices, Luzerne County Chiefs of Police Association, Pennsylvania State Police, and administrators of Central Court.
6. Conduct weekly meetings of the court en banc or on an as-needed basis until court reorganization.