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AAA Mid-Atlantic: Distracted Driving Awareness Month highlights continuous problem on the roads

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Family places signs in front of Luzerne County Courthouse for Autism Awareness Month

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Court documents indicate that James Strong, convicted of murder in 2011, has filed for post-conviction relief.</p><p>According to court documents filed Friday, David Lapman was appointed as conflict counsel for Strong. Luzerne County Judge Thomas F. Burke also ordered Lapman to meet with Strong to determine if a supplement to the motion is necessary &#8212; if it is, Lapman has 20 days to file.</p><p>Lapman was also ordered to file a comprehensive brief in support of the motion within 20 days. Prosecutors are also ordered to file a response to the motion within 30 days.</p><p>Strong, 64, was convicted in 2001 of first-degree murder in the August 1983 shooting death of John Strock in a wooded area in Dorrance Township. Doctors Jethro Toomer and James Merikangas testified at his sentencing hearing that Strong suffers from major mental disabilities and brain damage, and that disabilities and damage have affected Strong his entire life.</p><p>Strong was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. He is currently jailed at the State Correctional Institution at Fayette.</p><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Man convicted of 1983 homicide seeks post-conviction relief