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Terrie Morgan-Besecker
tmorgan@timesleader.com

Luzerne County Judges

Latest Headlines

January 1, 2009

Court refuses to revisit Lokuta ruling

HARRISBURG – The state Court of Judicial Discipline has denied former Luzerne County judge Ann Lokuta’s request to reconsider its decision to remove her from office.

December 24, 2008

Lokuta’s motion opposed

Saying former Judge Ann Lokuta still does not grasp the severity of her misconduct, the state Judicial Conduct Board on Tuesday filed court papers opposing her request for reconsideration of an order that removed her from office.

December 23, 2008

Motion for juveniles to be filed

WILKES-BARRE – Attorneys with a juvenile advocacy group say they intend to file a motion today with the state Supreme Court renewing their request that the court overturn hundreds of Luzerne County cases in which juveniles were not represented by an attorney.

December 20, 2008

Pa. association backs Petrilla

Luzerne County commissioners are about to get some backup in the legal battle to force the courts to reduce staff.

December 20, 2008

Lokuta files reconsideration request to Pa. conduct board

Booted Luzerne County Judge Ann Lokuta has filed a motion requesting reconsideration of the ruling that banned her from the bench.

December 20, 2008

County responds to judge’s challenge

WILKES-BARRE – Hit with an injunction that prevents them from laying off court personnel, Luzerne County commissioners on Friday fired back, filing an emergency petition that asks the state Supreme Court to vacate the order and to take jurisdiction of the case.

December 19, 2008

Judiciary gets layoff injunction

WILKES-BARRE – A preliminary injunction that prevents county commissioners from cutting court staff might also preclude them from instituting layoffs in other county departments, dependent upon how the order is interpreted.

December 19, 2008

Philly law firm to defend two commissioners

WILKES-BARRE – A law firm that has agreed to defend Luzerne County commissioners in a lawsuit filed by the county court system will be paid up to $375 per hour to work on the case.

December 18, 2008

Judges suing county over cuts

WILKES-BARRE – Unable to resolve a dispute over layoffs within the court system, Luzerne County President Judge Mark Ciavarella on Wednesday followed through on his threat to file a lawsuit that seeks to prevent commissioners from implementing cuts in court personnel.

December 11, 2008

Appeal could slow replacing Lokuta

WILKES-BARRE – Luzerne County Judge Ann Lokuta’s promised appeal of a court order ousting her from office could complicate the process utilized to fill her vacancy, according to the governor’s office.

December 10, 2008

Judge’s staff given 2-weeks’ job notice

Judge Ann Lokuta’s three staff members were given a two-week notice Tuesday, just hours after the state Court of Judicial Discipline removed their boss from the bench.

December 10, 2008

State court bans Lokuta from bench

HARRISBURG – Seventeen years after ascending to the highest office any female attorney has held in Luzerne County, Judge Ann Lokuta is leaving in disgrace, booted from her position by a panel of her peers who railed against her conduct on the bench.

December 9, 2008

Lokuta removed from bench

The state Court of Judicial Discipline has voted to remove Luzerne County Judge Ann Lokuta from the bench. For further details keep checking at www.timesleader.com.

December 9, 2008

Sanctions hearing for Judge Lokuta begins today

Testimony in the sanctions hearing for Luzerne County Judge Ann Lokuta is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. today before the state’s Court of Judicial Discipline.

December 9, 2008

Court likely to sue over budget cuts

It appears likely that the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas will sue over budget cuts because a resolution wasn’t reached during a Monday-morning meeting between court representatives and Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla.

December 7, 2008

Case against Judge Lokuta somewhat troubling Opinion Betty Roccograndi

THE STATE COURT of Judicial Discipline should skip over the formality of a sanctions hearing on Tuesday and just yank Luzerne County Judge Ann Lokuta from the bench.

December 4, 2008

Row officers plan huddle

Luzerne County Clerk of Courts Bob Reilly has organized a Monday meeting with fellow row officers to discuss what, if anything, they plan to do about the commissioners’ proposed 2009 budget cuts.

December 3, 2008

Lokuta lawyer seeking 29 witnesses

HARRISBURG – Luzerne County Judge Ann Lokuta plans to call up to 29 witnesses to testify on her behalf at a sanctions hearing next week before the state Court of Judicial Discipline.

November 21, 2008

Pa. court dismisses Lokuta’s objections

HARRISBURG – The state Court of Judicial Discipline on Thursday dismissed objections filed by Luzerne County Judge Ann Lokuta and will proceed with a hearing to determine penalties against the jurist.