The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has made available an audio file of the oral arguments held Wednesday of former LuzerneCounty judge Mark Ciavarellaâ??s appeal of his corruption conviction.
Link to file

The file is a recording of arguments Ciavarellaâ??s attorneys, Al Flora and William Ruzzo, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon Zubrod made in support of their positions regarding whether Ciavarella should be granted a new trial or, in the alternative, new sentencing hearing.

Ciavarella is seeking to overturn his Februray 2011 conviction on 12 counts related to his acceptance of $1 million from real estate developer Robert Mericle, who built two juvenile detention centers the county utilized.

His attorneys argued U.S. District Judge Edwin Kosik made biased rulings based on his personal disdain for Ciavarella. Prosecutors contend the rulings were proper.

The court took the matter under advisement and will issue a ruling at a later date.