For the first time in county history, voters decided against keeping an incumbent judge who was up for retention. County Judge Peter Paul Olszewski will not serve another 10-year term. He lost his bid for retention Tuesday. When Olszewski's term is up in January, Luzerne County will be down three judges.
"January, unless something changes, we will have seven judges out of a statutory compliment of ten to do the work necessary to move the cases in Luzerne County. I have great fear there are going to be backlogs worse than there are now," said President Judge Chester Muroski.
Ann Lokuta is out appealing her removal from the bench. Mark Ciavarella is gone facing a slew of corruption charges. When Olszewski leaves in January, it will be up to Governor Ed Rendell to make two possible judicial appointments.
"At that point, a vacancy will be declared, the governor's office may become involved. They will have the opportunity if they choose to appoint and fill that seat until the next municipal election," said Director of Elections Len Piazza.
President Judge Muroski said desperate times call for desperate measures. He has called a meeting with state lawmakers for November 12 and Thursday he will be talking with attorneys in Luzerne County about the possibility of having lawyers act as judges with a special position called "trial master."
"I am going to encourage lawyers tomorrow to think positively about that concept," said Muroski.
While the governor can appoint two judges in Luzerne County in 2010, he does not have to.
As for the ouster of Judge Olszewski, some are blaming it on a photograph showing a convicted criminal, former Judge Michael Conahan and Olszewki,. Conahan and Mark Ciavarella are two former judges both facing a slew of corruption charges.
"January, unless something changes, we will have seven judges out of a statutory compliment of ten to do the work necessary to move the cases in Luzerne County. I have great fear there are going to be backlogs worse than there are now," said President Judge Chester Muroski.
Ann Lokuta is out appealing her removal from the bench. Mark Ciavarella is gone facing a slew of corruption charges. When Olszewski leaves in January, it will be up to Governor Ed Rendell to make two possible judicial appointments.
"At that point, a vacancy will be declared, the governor's office may become involved. They will have the opportunity if they choose to appoint and fill that seat until the next municipal election," said Director of Elections Len Piazza.
President Judge Muroski said desperate times call for desperate measures. He has called a meeting with state lawmakers for November 12 and Thursday he will be talking with attorneys in Luzerne County about the possibility of having lawyers act as judges with a special position called "trial master."
"I am going to encourage lawyers tomorrow to think positively about that concept," said Muroski.
While the governor can appoint two judges in Luzerne County in 2010, he does not have to.
As for the ouster of Judge Olszewski, some are blaming it on a photograph showing a convicted criminal, former Judge Michael Conahan and Olszewki,. Conahan and Mark Ciavarella are two former judges both facing a slew of corruption charges.
