News
Supreme Court Removes Two Luzerne County Judges
News Article
January 27, 2009
HARRISBURG, January 28, 2009 – The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, exercising its supervisory powers, today issued orders removing two Luzerne County judges from service. The Court suspended Luzerne County Judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr., relieving him of all judicial and administrative responsibilities. Ciavarella was suspended with pay pending further order of the Court. The Court revoked the senior judge certification of Senior Judge Michael T. Conahan and ordered all pending judicial assignments to Conahan rescinded. Conahan will no longer receive per diem pay as a senior judge. The Supreme Court, which has administrative oversight of the Pennsylvania court system, took these actions after receiving notice that federal criminal charges had been filed against Ciavarella and Conahan. Both judges have agreed to enter guilty pleas to the charges. It is the Court's practice to suspend a judge with pay pending the outcome of a criminal case. The Court's orders are attached.