President Judge PPO?

The Citizens' Voice reported this morning that "Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas judges will meet at noon Friday to vote for a successor for president judge, according to a news release from Judge Chester B. Muroski.

Muroski took over as acting president judge on Monday as former President Judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. stepped down from that post."

With all of the events that unfolded yesterday... it got me thinking about who the next president judge would be... could it be Judge Peter Paul Olszewski, Jr., and if he is selected, would it effect Harlow's trial date?

After speaking with a source familiar with the situation, I'm told that they (the source) already have him penciled in as the next president judge. The others (judges) are either on the verge of mandatory retirement, not as experienced, or already served as PJ. Plus, PPO's well respected and a hard worker.

My source goes on to say that if PPO is selected, it won't have any impact on Harlow Cuadra's trial at all. He'd assume some additional administrative duties, but nothing that would prevent him from altering a trial already scheduled for next month.

Guess we'll see on Friday. :)

Update 01/29/2009: The Times Leader is reporting that for the first time in the history of Luzerne County court, the election of the new president judge will be open to the public, acting president Judge Chester Muroski announced today.

Mursoki said the vote, scheduled for Friday at noon, must be taken by secret ballot as required by law. The results of the vote will immediately be read in open court, however. The new president judge will then be immediately sworn in.

The judges will meet in courtroom number four at the Luzerne County Courthouse on North River St., Wilkes-Barre.

And in Other News...

The Citizens' Voice reports that Luzerne County judges Mark A. Ciavarella and Michael Conahan were charged today with two counts of conspiracy to impede the Internal Revenue Service in collecting federal income taxes and a scheme to defraud the citizens of Luzerne County and Pennsylvania of the right to their honest services.

Ciavarella and Conahan were charged with concealing the receipt of $2.6 million between January 2003 and April 2007. They have filed a plea agreement, signed by both judges, and pleaded guilty to honest service fraud and income tax conspiracy.

The judges stipulated they will resign their judgeship and be disbarred. They will serve 87 months in federal prison and make restitution as stipulated by the court.

Update: Press Release from U.S. Attorney General on Luzerne judges, and Information on Charges... and Ciavarella's Resignation Letter.

Update 2: Ciavarella's plea agreement ... Conahan's plea agreement.

Update 3: According to the Citizen's Voice: The information filed today alleges the judges received payments from two persons, identified as Individual # 1 and Individual # 2. They are not named, but the information says Individual # 1 was a Luzerne County attorney who was an owner of the Pennsylvania Child Care juvenile detention center that is at the core of the government’s case. Butler Township attorney Robert J. Powell was until June one of two co-owners of Pennsylvania Child Care. The other owner, Gregory Zappala, who is now sole owner of the firm, is a Pittsburgh-area investment banker.

The information says Individual #2 was the contractor that built Pennsylvania Child Care’s local facilty and another in Butler County. The contractor for both projects was Mericle Construction Inc., headed by local developer Robert Mericle.

Neither Powell nor Mericle responded immediately to requests for comment.

Update 4: Ciavarella releases a statement.

Update 5: State Supreme Court removes Conahan, Ciavarella from the bench.