Troubled Pa. Court Asks Lawyers to Volunteer to Reduce Trial Backlog

Faced with a shortage of two judges, in the wake of misconduct charges, and a backlog of 1,382 cases that are supposed to be tried by January, a Pennsylvania court is calling for seasoned practitioners to volunteer as special trial masters.

With the parties' permission, they can oversee jury trials, reports the Times-Leader, as Luzerne County President Judge Chester Muroski presses the state legislature to fill two vacant seats.

As detailed in earlier ABAJournal.com posts, ex-judge Mark Ciavarella is presently facing federal corruption charges, along with another former longtime Luzerne judge, concerning alleged kids-for-cash jailing of juveniles and other claimed misconduct. The second vacancy on the Luzerne bench, however, was created by a judicial discipline case against another jurist, Ann Lokuta. She contends that corrupt colleagues unfairly orchestrated her removal, and the state supreme court has stayed her removal and left her seat on the bench vacant while she appeals.

Earlier related coverage:

ABAJournal.com: "Top Pa. Court Axes $3.5M Libel Verdict Due to ‘Judicial Impropriety’"

ABAJournal.com: "Judge Gets Chance to Argue Corrupt Colleagues Orchestrated Her Ouster"