News

Luzerne County to host Commonwealth Court session

News Article

April 13, 2017

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania will hold a special session on Thursday April 20 at the Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre.

The session will begin at 9 a.m. with a joint ceremonial gathering of the Commonwealth Court and the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas. 

Following the ceremonial session, a three-judge panel of the Commonwealth Court — President Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt, Judge Joseph M. Cosgrove and Senior Judge James Gardner Colins will hear oral arguments in a number of cases of interest to Luzerne and nearby counties.

In addition to the special session, the Luzerne County Bar Association is planning one-hour continuing legal education with a Commonwealth Court panel on a practice-related topic. Judges Cosgrove, Renee Cohn Jubelirer and Patricia A. McCullough will serve as panelists.

The special session is the result of an invitation by Luzerne County President Judge Richard M. Hughes.

Commonwealth Court has nine regular argument sessions per year – in Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Special sessions occasionally are held outside the regular venues to bring the workings of the court to more Pennsylvanians.

Commonwealth Court is one of Pennsylvania’s two statewide intermediate appellate courts. Established in 1968, the court is unlike any other state court in the nation. Its jurisdiction generally is limited to legal matters involving state and local government and regulatory agencies. 

Litigation typically focuses on such subjects as banking, insurance and utility regulation and laws affecting taxation, land use, elections, labor practices and workers compensation. Commonwealth Court also acts as a court of original jurisdiction, or a trial court, when lawsuits are filed by or against the Commonwealth. 

More on the Commonwealth Court and its judges can be found at: www.pacourts.us/T/Commonwealth

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Media contact: Art Heinz, 717-231-3317