Published: Friday, February 13, 2009
Updated: Friday, February 13, 2009 8:17 AM EST
Ex-judge hears her detractors issue pleas
Former Luzerne County Judge Ann H. Lokuta had a front-row seat in federal court Thursday as her colleagues-turned-adversaries, Judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. and Senior Judge Michael T. Conahan, pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit tax fraud.
?It?s been a long time coming,? Ms. Lokuta said after the hearing. ?I think today true justice is being rendered for the citizens of Luzerne County.?
Judges Ciavarella, 58, and Conahan, 56, testified against Ms. Lokuta, 55, during the series of misconduct hearings between September 2007 and January 2008 that precipitated her removal from the bench by the state Court of Judicial Discipline in December. Ms. Lokuta is appealing the decision to the state Supreme Court.
She has contended Judge Conahan, the president judge from 2002 through 2006, helped orchestrate the charges against her and claimed he lied when he testified he was unaware of any individuals within the Court of Common Pleas who were ?particularly aligned together for any reason.?
Judges Ciavarella and Conahan controverted that claim Thursday as they pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit tax fraud. Federal prosecutors accused the judges of collecting $2.6 million in payoffs to facilitate the development and operation of the Pennsylvania Child Care juvenile detention center in Pittston Twp. and a similar facility in Butler County.
?These two individuals controlled every aspect of the courthouse employees,? Ms. Lokuta said. ?It?s just sad none of my colleagues were here, that none of my colleagues stepped up.?
Judge Ciavarella approached Ms. Lokuta minutes after the conclusion of the plea hearing, as she stood near the wooden rail between the defense and prosecution tables and the four rows of spectator seating in the rear of the courtroom.
Judge Ciavarella greeted the former jurist, leaned in, and kissed her on the cheek.
?I think he said, ?Hello?,? Ms. Lokuta recalled. ?I wasn?t really paying that much attention because it caught me quite off guard when he came over and kissed me on the cheek ? considering the testimony that was introduced during my trial.?
In his testimony at the misconduct hearing, Judge Conahan sharply criticized Ms. Lokuta?s courtroom demeanor and work ethic and admitted he gave the business card of the chief counsel for the state Judicial Conduct Board to 50 to 100 people who had complaints against her.
Judges Conahan and Ciavarella were ?two witnesses among a total pool of 31 who testified as part of the board?s case,? and their testimony was no more ?key? than any of the other witnesses, Joseph Massa, the chief counsel for the conduct board, said in a court filing Wednesday.
More then likely this investigation when completed will include all of the 31 who testified against Lokuta. Hopefully it includes DeNaples and Lackawanna County.......
