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<p>The state Auditor General released a report Wednesday noting a failure to issue warrants in a timely manner at the offices of Magisterial District Judge Martin Kane.</p><p>Kane&#8217;s simple written explanation included in the report: Inadequate staffing to keep up with demand.</p><p>The report, called an &#8220;Attestation Engagement,&#8221; examined receipts and disbursements at Magisterial District Court 11-2-01 in Wilkes Barre for the period from Jan. 1, 2011 to Dec. 31, 2013. The review included a check on compliance with certain state law provisions.</p><p>The report found &#8220;inadequate arrest warrant procedures,&#8221; noting &#8220;warrant procedures established by the Magisterial District Judge Automated Office Clerical Procedures Manual were not always followed.&#8221;</p><p>Warrants are used to collect money on traffic and non-traffic cases when fines aren&#8217;t paid as required, to arrest a defendant, to collect fines and costs once a case has been disposed, and to collect collateral for a trial, the report notes.</p><p>The Auditor General&#8217;s Office tested &#8220;49 instances in which a warrant was required to be issued&#8221; and found &#8220;nine were not issued timely and three were not issued at all.</p><p>&#8220;In addition, of 46 warrants required to be returned or recalled, seven were not returned or recalled, and 14 were not returned timely.&#8221;</p><p>Kane, who is retiring this January after 30 years on the bench, offered a short response included in the report:</p><p>&#8220;This occurred when I lost two major personnel to retirement. Presently I am down one secretary as of this letter to our office. Because of this it sets this District Court back in processing warrants and civil complaints.&#8221;</p><p>The report noted &#8220;the failure to follow warrant procedures could result in uncollected fines and unpunished offenders.&#8221;</p><p>It recommended the office review reports for warrants daily and take appropriate action required by the manual. It also recommended &#8220;the court review warrant control reports and notify police or other officials to return warrants that are unserved for 60 days for summary traffic and non-traffic cases as required by the manual.&#8221;</p><p>A person at Kane&#8217;s office said he was unavailable Wednesday afternoon.</p><p>Magisterial District 11-1-02 encompasses the East End, North End, Parsons, Miners Mills and Heights sections of the city.</p><p>Thomas F. Malloy, of the East End, is expected to fill Kane&#8217;s district judge post when he runs unopposed for the position in November.</p><p>Malloy earned nominations on both the Democratic and Republican ballots in May, easily defeating his two opponents, including Kane&#8217;s son Jared M. Kane.</p><p>The job this year pays $88,290.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Auditor-general-report-district-court-11-1-02_13.pdf">
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<div class="neCaption">Kane </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_Kane4tljpg3.jpeg</photo1><caption1>Kane </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mark Guydish</p><p>mguydish@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Auditor General: Wilkes-Barre district judge’s office fell short in issuing warrants