HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today nominated Joseph Matthias Cosgrove, an attorney from Forty Fort, to fill a vacancy on the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

If confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate, he will fill the seat of Mark A. Ciavarella, who resigned from the court in March. Cosgrove would serve the remainder of Ciavarella's term, until January 2012.

"Joe Cosgrove is a highly intelligent and very accomplished lawyer and litigator, who has distinguished himself in the field of law as well as the general community," Governor Rendell said. "He is an educator, a legal scholar, and a man held in very high regard by his colleagues. His nomination stands as assurance to the people to the Luzerne County that I am determined to appoint judges who are persons of experience, intellect and integrity."

Cosgrove has been in private law practice since 1982. Prior to that, he was a law clerk in the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, a Luzerne County Assistant Public Defender, and Luzerne County Conflict Counsel.

He has also been an adjunct faculty member at King's College in Wilkes Barre, teaching Constitutional Law and Civil Rights. In addition, he is a member of the Criminal Justice Act Panel of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Cosgrove holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government and International Studies, a Master of Arts in Theology, and a Juris Doctorate; all from the University of Notre Dame. He also earned a Master of Studio Arts degree from Marywood College in Scranton.

He is a past president of the Luzerne County Bar Association, of the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and a past chair of the Luzerne County Board of Elections.

Cosgrove has been a member of numerous legal advisory committees on the local, state and U.S. Appeal Court levels.

Media contact: Gary Tuma, 717-783-1116

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

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