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Cosgrove

UNLESS JOSEPH Cosgrove dons a Superman cape and quickly dispatches cases with the heart and humor of Judge Harry Stone, of TV’s “Night Court” fame, the Luzerne County court system still has troubles.

It needs at least one or two more jurists to cope with its heavy caseload.

State officials, including Gov. Ed Rendell, fast-tracked Cosgrove’s appointment to the county bench, proving that sensible yet speedy choices can be made – if only the spirit is willing. They should repeat the process as soon as possible, in the interest of fairness to the judges now shouldering the load and to the people waiting for their cases to be handled.

Cosgrove, 53, was sworn in as judge Thursday afternoon. The Forty Fort resident and attorney, who is highly regarded by peers in the local legal community, replaces former judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr., who resigned last year and awaits trial on federal corruption charges in connection with the kids-for-cash scandal.

Cosgrove is expected to serve only until the former judge’s term expires in 2012.

In private practice since 1982, Cosgrove previously worked as a state Superior Court law clerk and a Luzerne County assistant public defender. Certainly there are other well-qualified jurist candidates in this county, Democrats and Republicans, who can be identified and considered.

The state Senate deserves to be commended for moving rapidly on Cosgrove’s appointment and for confirming him by unanimous vote earlier this week. Its action suggests that lawmakers across the state recognize the gravity of the corruption investigation unfolding in Luzerne County and understand the urgent need to respond.

Today the embattled Court of Common Pleas, which has undergone the departure of six judges in two years, remains three judges shy of a full complement.

The governor and state senators should solve that problem, preferably before immersing themselves in other pressing matters such as dealing with Marcellus shale drilling, debating budget numbers and diving into re-election campaigns.