Pocono News Section

Computer system cleaning conflict

Computer system cleaning conflict - Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 6:26PM EST

Luzerne County judges want to take controversy out of the courtroom.

A new computer system is being used for civil cases. It will randomly assign cases to judges, something that wasn't being done before.

Luzerne County judge Joseph Musto says, "There is no possibility that cases could be assigned to one judge over another in an attempt to gain an advantage in a civil case."

This system was created after controversy.

Former court administrator William Sharkey used to assign civil cases to judges.

But in February, Sharkey plead guilty to stealing 70 thousand in confiscated gambling money from the courthouse.

Luzerne County senior judge Chester Muroski says, "We are certainly aware of the public concern about allegations, charges and even guilty pleas that have been entered concerning all this."

While new steps are in place, judges and attorneys hold the key to this system's success.

Judge Musto says, "It still at this point is going to be the judges decision through the regular process of recusal"

So if judges know they have a conflict with either side of a case, they are supposed to pass that case to another judge.

A similar system is expected to be created for Luzerne County criminal cases.

T hat system could be in place by October.