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By RENITA FENNICK; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Thursday, January 30, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





Luzerne County will add a ninth judge in 2000, if a proposal pending in the
state Legislature becomes law. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Senate Bill 178, passed 46-1 by the Senate on Wednesday, would create 26
new Common Pleas Court judgeships in 22 counties across the state. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The new Luzerne County judge would be elected in 1999 and take office the
following January. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The possibility of another judgeship caught most lawyers by surprise. But
the Senate's action has several of them thinking. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Absolutely, I'm interested. It's still my dream to be a judge," said
Joseph Giovannini, of Kingston. The 50-year-old Democrat finished second in
both the Democratic and Republican primaries in the 1995 judicial election. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It's still a dream of Diane Kopcha Katlic, a Dallas Democrat. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It's a logical culmination to a legal career. I've always viewed the job
with the utmost respect. But this (the legislation) has to happen first." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The House is likely to pass the bill, since an almost identical proposal
passed unanimously last November, Brian Preski, chief counsel to the House
Judiciary Committee, said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It can come up for a vote as early as Wednesday," Preski said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Proponents are hoping for quick passage since the measure calls for 13
counties to get new judges this year. Gov. Tom Ridge must sign the legislation
by Feb. 20 in order for candidates to get their names on the ballot by the May
20 primary. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A judgeship is a 10-year term that pays $105,000 annually. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Giovannini and Kopcha Katlic were among the 16 lawyers who ran for four
judicial slots in 1991. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Others who ran that year have ruled out another campaign. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I've had my chance and I'm 62 now, so I don't think so," said Republican
William Kellar of Forty Fort. State law requires a judge to retire at age 70. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Republican Enid Harris, 42, of Wilkes-Barre, said the cost of conducting a
judicial campaign will keep her out of the running. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I wouldn't consider it; it's just too expensive." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Judge Mark Ciavarella spent $450,000 to win his seat in 1995. His opponent,
Joseph Yeager, a Democrat who won the Republican nomination, spent $70,000. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Seven of the county's eight judges are Democrats. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The high cost of a countywide campaign is one reason Tom Marsilio considers
himself a dark horse. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I'd like to run, but as a Republican I have 2.9 strikes against me. The
Democrats have a registration edge and the Republican Party in Luzerne County
is like a silent minority. I can't see throwing away tens of thousands of my
own money." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ed Geist, a Wilkes-Barre Republican, agrees. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It's unfortunate, but you have to have a lot of money to run for judge.
The guys who have it are the ones who are successful.' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Former Judge Joseph Musto said he is giving the idea of another judicial
campaign serious consideration. Musto, a Pittston Democrat, was appointed to a
vacancy on the county court but lost to Judge Michael Conahan in the 1993
election. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Two other Democrats -- District Attorney Peter Paul Olszewski and District
Justice Fred Pierantoni of Pittston -- said it was too early to think about
1999. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I'm not going to rule it out, but right now I'm preparing for the (Joann)
Curley murder trial," Olszewski said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pierantoni said he is concentrating on being re-elected to the district
justice position this year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Luzerne County Could Get 9th Judge 
If The Proposal Wins Legislative Approval, The New Judge Would Be Elected In 
1999 And Would Take Office The Following Year

Luzerne County Could Get 9th Judge If The Proposal Wins Legislative Approval, The New Judge Would Be Elected In 1999 And Would Take Office The Following Year