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November 17, 2009

Courts to stay open during holiday weeks

Although the Lawrence County Government Center will close during two upcoming holiday weeks, court will be in session.

Common Pleas President Judge Dominick Motto in a memo outlined steps to ensure smooth operation of the courts during the two furlough weeks during Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

The commissioners during the state budget impasse decided all courthouse offices except for the courts would close and most employees furloughed, the weeks of Nov. 23 through 27 and Dec. 21 through 25, to make up for a deficit caused by state budget cuts and delays in state reimbursements for county-run programs.

The courts will operate out of the Central Court building during the two holiday weeks.

Motto said he will preside there on Monday and Tuesday during Thanksgiving week, and Judge Thomas M. Piccione will take over on Wednesday. The courts normally would be closed Thursday and Friday of Thanksgiving week.

Judges J. Craig Cox and John W. Hodge had previously scheduled vacations then.

In December, one judge is to be scheduled each day, Monday through Wednesday, Motto said.

During the two furlough weeks, Central Court also will be staffed by six court personnel , including Central Court administrator Peggy Tarnaski, a clerical staff member from the office of each of the four judges, and a representative of the prothonotary and clerk of courts office, who will process emergency paperwork and accept legal documents that have time limits.

�No one will have anything previously scheduled on those two weeks,� Motto said.

The judge and staff will accept emergency petitions, motions and other legal proceedings including protection from abuse petitions, emergency juvenile petitions and proceedings, cancellations of bench warrants, petitions for emergency relief including requests for injunctions and other matters that cannot be deferred.

Motion court will not be scheduled while the courthouse is closed, but the court will consider emergency motions that are scheduled through the court staff.

Sheriff Perry Quahliero will maintain office hours through those weeks to direct people with court matters to central court.

A sheriff�s deputy also will be available, if needed, to transport prisoners to and from the jail.

Court staff members may be reached those weeks by calling Central Court at (724) 656-2290.

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