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Background

In the 2009 general election, three candidates are seeking election to two open seats in the county's Court of Common Pleas. In the May 2009 primary that featured 17 candidates, Bill Amesbury was selected by voters on both the Democratic and Republican tickets. Candidates Dick Hughes and Tina Polachek-Gartley were chosen to the Republican and Democratic tickets, respectively, by voters.

Also in November 2009, Court of Common Pleas Judges Thomas Burke and Peter Paul Olsewski, Jr., are candidates for retention for another 10-year term on the bench.

The races have gained widespread attention following the January 2009 revelation by federal investigators of an alleged kickback scheme involving former judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan and the operation of two juvenile detention centers.

Primary Author

Bill O’Boyle
boboyle@timesleader.com

Luzerne County Judge Elections

Latest Headlines

January 3, 2010

Judges, row officials to take oaths

WILKES-BARRE – Two newly elected Court of Common Pleas judges and two new row officers will be sworn in at the Luzerne County Courthouse on Monday.

November 5, 2009

Olszewski’s goose cooked by photo, analyst contends

WILKES-BARRE – Luzerne County Judge Peter Paul Olszewski’s bid for retention was essentially doomed the day a photo of him posing with a convicted drug dealer and disgraced former colleague was made public, a local political analyst said.

November 3, 2009

Democrats Amesbury and Polachek Gartley win

With 99 percent of precincts in, Democratic candidates William Amesbury and Tina Polachek Gartley have been elected to fill two open seats on the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

November 3, 2009

Olszewski loses retention, Burke will return

In a rare rejection of a sitting judge, Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. will lose his seat for a second 10-year term if unofficial results posted by the county Bureau of Election at 9:53 p.m. hold up.

October 31, 2009

GOP is in favor of ‘bullet voting’

The Luzerne County Republican Party is advocating the use of “bullet voting” to try to shoot down the candidacy of at least one Democratic judicial opponent.

October 28, 2009

Judge candidates debate on TV

JENKINS TWP. – All three Luzerne County judicial candidates said they accomplished their main goal Tuesday night: Reaching a lot of voters.

October 27, 2009

WVIA will air judicial debate

Voters still undecided on whom they will vote for in the race for judge of the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas will have an opportunity to see and hear the three candidates in a judicial debate tonight.

October 25, 2009

Judicial hopefuls release financial reports

The committees for two attorneys and one district judge battling for two seats on the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas have raised a combined amount of $229,059 from June 9 through Oct. 19, according to state campaign finance reports filed Friday.

October 25, 2009

ELECT: Luzerne County Judge

WILKES-BARRE – Three candidates, two open seats, one electorate.

October 22, 2009

Candidates for judge hope to restore gov’t

NANTICOKE – Judicial candidates – those seeking election or retention to the bench – answered a variety of questions during a candidates forum Thursday night at the Luzerne County Community College.

October 21, 2009

Judge Tom Burke - Retention interview

Judge Tom Burke's interview with the Times Leader Editorial Board.

October 21, 2009

Judge Peter Paul Olszewski - Retention interview

Judge Peter Paul Olszewski's interview with the Times Leader Editorial Board.

October 21, 2009

Candidate videos now available

Candidate interviews conducted by the Times Leader Editorial Board in October 2009 have been posted to our YouTube channel, youtube.com/timesleadervideo.

October 21, 2009

Bill Amesbury - Candidate interview video

Bill Amesbury's interview with the Times Leader Editorial Board.

October 21, 2009

Richard Hughes - Candidate interview video

Richard Hughes' interview with the Times Leader Editorial Board.

October 21, 2009

Tina Polachek Gartley - Candidate interview video

Tina Polachek Gartley's interview with the Times Leader Editorial Board.

October 18, 2009

‘A new voice’ pushing for change

WILKES-BARRE – Tina Polachek Gartley is emphatic when she says she is “not a good old boy.”

October 17, 2009

Olszewski defends his reputation

WILKES-BARRE – Luzerne County Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. said he’s spent the past decade establishing himself as a hardworking, capable jurist dedicated to serving the public.

October 16, 2009

Public hears opinions of 3 court hopefuls

WILKES-BARRE – Most of the unaffiliated spectators at Thursday night’s judicial forum agreed on one thing – there are three qualified, capable candidates for two open seats on the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.