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Lokuta Files New Appeal With State Supreme Court

Lokuta Files New Appeal With State Supreme Court - Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at 5:40PM EST

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- There are strong objections to her removal from the Luzerne County bench. Now former Judge Ann Lokuta just escalated the fight, taking her argument to the State Supreme Court.
She's riding the coattails of the county's corruption scandal. Her appeal claims the proceeding against Ann Lokuta from its pursuit to the outcome was so tainted, nothing less than complete exoneration would satisfy justice.

Ann Lokuta believes she was railroaded. Filing hundreds of pages with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, she's renewing a battle to get her job back.

Her appeal alleges case fixing and a web of relationships that amounted to conspiracy. Lokuta claims Judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella manifested a war against her. She alleges the witnesses who testified against her were beholden to a corrupt power structure determined to achieve her dismissal.

The appeal claims President Judge Chester Muroski in 2005 was willing to testify about problems in the juvenile justice system at a county hearing. But it's alleged Muroski had a change of heart.

Testimony from Lokuta's former attorney Sam Stretton reads:

"...Conahan gave Judge Muroski his chambers, allotted $30,000 of repairs, and Muroski won't talk to us anymore..."
"...I want you to see what's happening to people up there... and if we get to trial on this, I know where the bodies are buried up there... you're gonna see the same thing is happening to each person..."

In Lokuta's trial, there wasn't a mention of bodies or bombshells hardly a suggestion of impropriety at the courthouse. Reached by phone, Muroski said he has no idea why his name appears in Lokuta's appeal. Judge Muroski denied even speaking with Conahan, saying there was no love lost.

The appeal sheds light on actions by Lokuta in 2006 to reveal a federal investigation into the judges. Orders by Judge Richard Sprague of the Court of Judicial Discipline demanded the agents be named in order to testify. Lokuta abandoned the defense, fearing the investigation would be compromised.

Lokuta claims she did not receive a fair trial. Judge Sprague headed the court. The appeal claims Sprague had represented the detention center PA Child Care against an important Lokuta witness. Sprague was asked to recuse himself from the case and refused.

The appeal also suggests Sprague may have been aware of the federal investigation and it is alleged he may have known of:

"…Conahan's ability to influence and pressure individuals..."
"...which makes his (Sprague's) refusal to reopen the case even more concerning..."

And now all of this goes to the justices of the state Supreme Court for consideration.

Back to Judge Muroski quickly, he provided us with a letter, dating back to 2005. In it, he was blowing the whistle on how money was appropriated in the juvenile justice system.
 


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