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WILKES-BARRE — After eight years as an assistant district attorney, eight more as district attorney and the last nine years as a judge for the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas, David Lupas is seeking retention for another 10-year term.
Lupas, 53, of Laflin, said he has always felt it was important for him to serve the residents of Luzerne County. He said he has the experience — he is second in seniority behind only Judge Thomas Burke — and Lupas still enjoys being in the courtroom and hearing cases.
He is the only one of the county’s 10 full-time judges who is up for retention. To win, Lupas must receive one more “yes” vote than “no” vote. The salary is $176,572.
“It’s always challenging, but I enjoy that,” he said. “And I have had my fair share of complex cases.”
Lupas was in his sixth year on the bench when the county corruption scandal hit, resulting in two judges sentenced to long prison terms. Lupas was assigned to Juvenile Court, where the corruption scandal centered.
Lupas said he brought all parties together — Juvenile Probation, District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office and community service providers — and scheduled monthly roundtable meetings to discuss ways to improve the system. Out of those meetings, Lupas spearheaded the formation of the Juvenile Justice Task Force. He said the Pennsylvania Supreme Court kept a watchful eye on Luzerne County as improvements were made and new programs initiated.
Lupas said he also increased outreach programs that went into county schools and created educational programs that taught the concept of balance and restorative justice.
“We wanted the juvenile court system to not just be punitive, but rehabilitative as well,” Lupas said.
He said he has always tried to make a difference as a judge, seeing that all who appear before him are treated fairly, respectfully and have their voices heard in court.
“Sometimes I compare my role as that of a baseball umpire,” Lupas said. “You’re not there to determine the outcome of the game, but there to make sure everybody is playing by the rules and the system is fair. People always remember who hit the home run, but they don’t know who the umpire was that day.”
Lupas said he has presided over 115 trials, many of them homicides and crimes that dealt with drugs and alcohol,
“I have the experience needed for this job,” the judge said. “I hope the people vote yes for my retention.”
Started as DA in 2000
Lupas was born and raised in Plains Township and graduated from James M. Coughlin High School in 1982. He attended Dickinson College in Carlisle and graduated in 1986 with a major in economics. He attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and graduated Cum Laude in 1989, earning his Juris Doctor degree.
Lupas was a practicing attorney and maintained a private practice with offices in West Pittston and Wilkes-Barre, and he served as solicitor for Plains Township from 1994 through 1999. He was an assistant district attorney from 1992 through 1999.
Lupas was elected District Attorney of Luzerne County and took office Jan. 3, 2000. He served a second term as District Attorney beginning January 5, 2004. Lupas was elected to the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas in 2007 and began his judicial duties in January 2008.
Among the many organizations of which he has been affiliated, Lupas is a past board member and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Wyoming Valley Catholic Youth Center (CYC); member and past president of the Plains Rotary Club; long-time member of the Crime Clinic of Greater Wyoming Valley; and a founding board member of the Northeast Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children. He also served as a coach in the Plains Little League Baseball Organization and is a member of St. Maria Goretti Church in Laflin.
Lupas is married to the former Cheryl Corcoran. The have two sons — Kyle (21) and Jacob (18) — and two daughters — Abigail (16) and Gwyneth (15).
On the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas, Lupas served as Juvenile Delinquency Administrative Judge for approximately 3½ years and as Administrative Judge of the Criminal Section. His current duties include assignment as Trial Judge in the Criminal Section and Hearing Judge in the Juvenile Delinquency Section. He is also authorized to act as President Judge during any absence of the President Judge.