Pocono News Section

Luzerne Co. Central Court Process Questioned

Luzerne Co. Central Court Process Questioned - Monday, February 9, 2009 at 4:59PM EST

Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Monday, Feb 9, 2009 @ 04:59pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- Two judges and a court administrator are headed to prison on federal charges as part of the Luzerne County corruption case. And now, many of the policy decisions they were involved with, are being re-examined. One of them is Central Court.

Questions about the cost efficiency of central court have come up, whether money can be saved by modifying it or even getting rid of it. A public hearing will be held to look into those questions and eyewitness news found no shortage of opinions on the issue.

Central Court is located in the old Thomas produce building on Union Street. It’s a one-stop shop for hearings for those arrested all around Luzerne County. It was the braindchild of embattled Judge Michael Conahan. He now faces federal prison on fraud charges.

But some, like District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll, have serious questions about Central Court. "When the police chiefs talk to me regarding Central Court, they’re always telling me problems that they're having as far as budget. It’s costing a great deal to have people come here to Central Court to have hearings," she says.

The old system mandated hearing and arraignments being held at district justice offices, close to the police stations. But the D. A. says the experiment is raising some doubts. "I was a proponent of Central Court when it began. I do think there are some benefits as Assistant D. A.'s are there at much earlier level. But other cases like bad checks, retail theft, and simple assault really don’t require an Assistant District Attorney,” says Musto Carroll.

But many defense lawyers, like Demetrius Fannick, support Central Court. "I like coming to one location one day having all my cases resolved the old system any given day be in 2 -3 different magistrates on 3 different locations creates havoc with scheduling problems," he says.

The county will hold a public hearing into central court in a few weeks. It’s all part of the budget deal reached last week by the county commissioners and new President Judge Chester Muroski.