Muroski officially withdraws lawsuit

Times Leader staff

WILKES-BARRE – Luzerne County President Judge on Monday issued a court order that officially withdraws the lawsuit former President Judge Mark Ciavarella filed against the county.

Muroski and Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla on Friday signed an agreement to settle the suit, which had challenged cuts in court personnel that commissioners included in the 2009 budget.

The agreement calls for the court system to cut $1.99 million in salaries. Muroski and the other county judges are in the process of evaluating all court positions to determine where the cuts will be made.

Muroski also signed an order on Friday that officially vacates the new pay scale for court-appointed attorneys that Ciavarella had issued in the days prior to his suspension from office.

In a related matter, Clerk of Courts Robert Reilly on Monday said he has not yet decided whether he will proceed with his petition that sought to intervene in the Ciavarella suit.

Reilly filed the motion last month, arguing cuts made had hampered his ability to administer justice. Reilly said he is waiting to hear from C. Joseph Rehkamp, the senior judge from Perry County who was appointed to preside over the lawsuit.