Luzerne County Judges
Friday, February 3, 2012
Background
Former Luzerne County judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan pleaded guilty on February 12, 2009, to charges they accepted more than $2.6 million in kickbacks in exchange for rulings that benefited the owners and builder of PA Child Care in Pittston Township and Western PA Child Care in Butler County.
The Office of U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Martin Carlson, his office has launched a Web site for the public to stay updated on the ongoing investigation of corruption in the county judiciary system.
Following the public corruption charges filed on January 26, 2009, authorities have met with several local attorneys to review past arbitration in the Luzerne County court system.
If you wish to find information about candidates seeking a seat in Luzerne County Court in the upcoming primary election, please see our Judge Elections hot topics page.
Primary Author
Terrie Morgan-Besecker
tmorgan@timesleader.com
Loading... |
Luzerne County Judges
Latest Headlines
Ex-judges’ motions get rejected
SCRANTON – A federal judge on Tuesday denied motions filed by former judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella that sought to dismiss the indictment against them and/or to suppress evidence based on allegations of prosecutorial misconduct.Judge denies motion to dismiss indictment against Conahan and Ciavarella
A federal judge has denied pre-trial motions filed by former judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella that sought to dismiss the case against them and/or suppress evidence based on allegations of government misconduct.Ruling may help ex-judges
The cases of three former Luzerne County judges charged in the ongoing public corruption probe could be influenced by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the honest services fraud law, a key component of the criminal cases against them.Toole seeks delay in sentencing
SCRANTON – An attorney for former Luzerne County judge Michael Toole has asked a judge to postpone his sentencing, saying he recently underwent major spinal surgery and remains in substantial pain.Juvie papers’ destruction blocked
SCRANTON - A federal judge has granted a motion filed by some of the defendants in the “kids for cash” lawsuits that sought to prevent the destruction of records they say are crucial to the defense of the cases.Ciavarella’s focus: Venue and judge changes
SCRANTON – Attorneys for former Luzerne County judge Mark Ciavarella filed a legal brief Monday answering the government’s response to Ciavarella’s pretrial motions.Toole-linked case appeal withdrawn
WILKES-BARRE – An attorney for an insurance company that sought to overturn a $1.2 million arbitration award that was reportedly the basis of corruption charges against former judge Michael Toole has filed court documents terminating the case.Powell tapes offer dilemma
Federal prosecutors knew they faced a tricky legal situation when they decided to utilize attorney Robert Powell in 2008 to secretly record conversations with Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella.Conahan ran show, feds say
WILKES-BARRE – From the moment he took a Christmas Eve drive with Robert Powell in 2001 to check out the site for a new juvenile detention center, Michael Conahan made it clear: He was the man in charge.Filing: Scheme started in 2001
SCRANTON – Michael Conahan wanted money, and he made it known to Robert Powell on Christmas Eve 2001, in what federal authorities said was the beginning of a $2.8 million kickback scheme connected to the closing of one juvenile detention center, the opening of others and filling them with young offenders.Powell’s recordings seen as key evidence
SCRANTON – Aware he and fellow judge Mark Ciavarella were under investigation by a federal grand jury, Michael Conahan met with attorney Robert Powell in July 2008 and issued a dire warning.Judge is looking to settle lawsuits
SCRANTON – A federal judge has scheduled a conference to discuss a possible settlement in four of the federal lawsuits filed in connection with the Luzerne County juvenile justice scandal.Court ruling sought before July 23 Conahan hearing
SCRANTON – A federal judge has tentatively scheduled the guilty plea hearing for former Luzerne County Judge Michael Conahan for July 23.Conahan, ‘good guy’ to bad 
Mike Conahan grew up in a different kind of Hazleton in the 1960s. Ethnicity still strongly delineated neighborhoods, with the Italians in the northeast, the Irish on the South Side and the Poles and Slavs tucked in between.Conahan likely facing prison
SCRANTON – For the second time in 16 months, former Luzerne County judge Michael Conahan has agreed to plead guilty to a corruption charge. Unlike the first deal he reached, this time there’s no turning back.UPDATE - Attorney: Ciavarella has no plans to plead guilty despite Conahan deal
Former Luzerne County judge Mark Ciavarella has no intention of pleading guilty despite a deal reached today with his co-defendant, Michael Conahan, Ciavarella's attorney said.
Criminal probe of JCB sought
Political activist Gene Stilp on Tuesday filed documents with federal and state authorities requesting a criminal investigation into the state Judicial Conduct Board’s handling of a complaint filed against former Luzerne County Judge Michael Conahan.JCB official: I erred on Conahan
HARRISBURG – The chief counsel for the Judicial Conduct Board admitted Monday that he was remiss in investigating a 2006 complaint filed against former Luzerne County Judge Michael Conahan, but denied his actions were designed to protect the disgraced jurist because he was a key witness in the case against former Judge Ann Lokuta.Families recount juvie experience
PLAINS TWP. – She has spoken about her son’s ordeal with the juvenile justice system at least a dozen times before, but Susan Mishanski struggled to get the words out of her mouth Thursday night.Judge: ‘Serious issues’ need fixing
Juveniles, four parents to testify at public hearing
Non-judicial juvie case defendants: Toss suits
Verdict on new judges ‘Welcome’
Two ex-judges want corruption trial held in Delaware
In unanimous vote, Senate confirms judge candidates
Future is looking bright to county’s new top judge
Ex-judge Ciavarella defaults on loan
New order in the court
Ex-judges launch their attack
Conahan claims immunity in juvie suit
Former judge’s sentencing is postponed
Two judges appeal denial of pensions
Rendell names two as judicial hopefuls
Judge pleads guilty in traffic accident
Judicial Conduct Board grilled
Pa. board needs to provide complaint
Cosgrove becomes county’s 7th judge
Cosgrove joins county court today
Judge explains restitution decision
Unsettled juvie cases won’t be retried
UPDATE: Juveniles who still owe restitution get clean slate
Public still waiting for ex-county judges’ court date
Experts offer tips at juvie hearings
Officials suggest reforms for future juvenile court
Red flags seen early, panel told
First juvie retrials to begin Tuesday
PFA issued for wife vs. Rehkamp
Judge extends pre-trial motion deadline for Conahan/Ciavarella
Charged judge’s caseload heavy
Juvenile center pursues injunction
Judge faces 2 charges
JCB lists complaint procedure
Toole quits bench, governor confirms
Toole case sends Erie into court
Toole resigns as a Luzerne County judge
Polachek Gartley fills court positions
Judge: Re-trial warranted in Ciavarella case
Guilty plea brings end to Toole’s pay, benefits
Top court ruling impacting county
Supreme Court revokes Toole's pay and benefits
Judge ‘guilty’ of two charges
Update: Toole sentence dependent upon U.S. Supreme Court case
Toole, Piazza ready guilty pleas
Ciavarella decision sparks new lawsuit
State motion against Mericle
Ex-judges are denied pensions
Plaintiffs in juvenile case seek to add to federal suit
Pa. panel speeds Cosgrove for Luzerne County bench
Lokuta takes aim at lawyers
State court approves early judge election
JCB handling of Conahan complaint questioned
Skrep doesn’t give testimony
Conahan complaint held 2 years
Petrilla: Judge pressured her
Judges’ charges spark plea for hearing
Testimony: Ciavarella’s ways accepted
Parents, juveniles testify damage was done
Attorneys supporting Cosgrove
Investigator allowed to review juvenile transcripts
Augello to become president judge
Governor nominates Cosgrove
Investigator given permission to review juvenile transcripts
Attorneys linked to Toole own local business together, records show
Rendell in no hurry to fill county judge vacancy, office says
Another Toole link
County braces for trouble over Judge Toole’s cases
Pa. Supreme Court suspends Toole
Who’s been charged?
County jurist 20th person feds charged
Toole knew political powers
Late notice irks county
Shock follows news of Toole agreement
VIDEO: Judge Muroski's press conference regarding Judge Michael Toole
Luzerne County Judge Michael Toole charged with honest services fraud
D.A. Musto Carroll petitions court to retry about 50 juveniles criminally
Court denies Lokuta request on pay, benefits
Muroski: Toole's vacation request within state standard
High court denies Lokuta pay and benefits
Immunity for judges not an end for families
A TIMELINE OF EVENTS
Liability in non-official jurist actions
Mother of juvenile ‘disappointed’
Cohahan, Ciavarella partially immune from kids for cash suit, judge says
UPDATE:Attorney calls ruling rightly clears county
Judicial fill-in set for Toole
Judge Toole takes break for November
Insurers challenge juvie claims
DA will retry 50 juvenile cases
Juvie panel gets history summary
W-B Area counters assertions
Court system gone awry
VIDEO: TL interview with Judge John Cleland
Feds may question Ciavarella home sale
No victims yet show to talk to court panel
Repairing broken justice
Judge testifies at juvenile hearing
Former juvenile probation official to testify at juvenile hearings
Sentence reductions possible
Bringing justice to them all
How juvie scandal was uncovered
Parents thrilled by court ruling
All Ciavarella juvie convictions vacated
State Supreme Court vacates juvenile convictions
DA, defender offices take criticism at hearing
Judge flap: Who is liable?
Attorneys argue Conahan, Ciavarella liable for actions on bench
Powell defense lawyer seeking to withdraw
Conahan and company
Timeline of charges in federal investigation
Seeking answers and the truth
Update: Muroski concludes testimony before juvenile commission
PCN offering online video of Juvenile Justice Commission hearings
Conahan, Scalleats tied for decades
Juvie cost falling on new policy
Conahan’s club interest revealing
Woman in pay dispute on judge’s guest list
Mericle sues his insurance carrier
Conahan linked to Pa. beer company
Residents agree damage was done
Analysts say Judge’s future is hurt
Juvie group: Ex-judge’s plea change irrelevant
Ex-judges’ immunity claims attacked
Conahan linked to 1990s cocaine probe
Conahan linked to 1990s cocaine probe
Judge agrees to release gasoline case transcript
Ex-jurists plea, still free
Kulick gets 37 months
Former judges plead not guilty
Lawyers: Flood’s suspicions panned out
Feds may seize assets of judges
Advertise |
Contact Us |
Copyright |
Subscribe
News |
Obituaries |
Sports |
Business |
Features |
People |
Opinion |
Photos |
Autos |
Homes |
Jobs |
Classifieds |
Directory
© Copyright 2012 The Times Leader. All Rights Reserved.
Stock Quotes may be delayed by 15 minutes.
Stock Quotes may be delayed by 15 minutes.
The Times Leader 15 N. Main Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
(570) 829-7101 or (800) 427-8649
