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HARRISBURG – A Supreme Court order issued Feb. 15 calls for the consolidation of district court judgeships across the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, according to a press release and individual orders.

The cuts, requested last year, cover eight magisterial district courts, including one in Lackawanna County. The savings total about $1 million but “will barely dent the state Judiciary’s sixth straight year of underfunding,” according to Tuesday’s release.

In Lackawanna County, services provided by the court of former District Judge James Kennedy, 45-1-06, at 1501-03 Capouse Ave., Scranton, will be combined with services provided by the court of former District Judge Thomas Golden, 45-1-07, at 2012 W. Pine St., Dunmore, according to former Lackawanna County President Judge Chester Harhut.

Effective Feb. 16, District 45-3-03, that of District Judge Sean McGraw at 33 S. Main St. in Carbondale was also reconfigured to include Scott and Benton Townships to even the caseload between McGraw and District Judges Laura Turlip and James Gibbons, he added.

Harhut requested the consolidation last year.

Lackawanna County Court Administrator Ronald Mackay said that the Dunmore jurisdiction is officially defunct and, effective Feb. 17, residents could file claims in either office under the district number 45-1-06. The district is currently being operated by visiting Senior Judge Joan Snyder but is up for election this year.

Golden and Kennedy each resigned at the end of last year, according to Mackay.

The change will significantly increase the district’s caseload.

“It will probably be our second largest in terms of filings,” Mackay said.

Lackawanna County Communications Director Lynne Shedlock said the county can expect some savings when it consolidates district offices from 11 to 10, but commissioners have not determined which office – Kennedy’s or Golden’s – will close.