SCRANTON, PA – The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has blocked the swearing-in of Brenda Sacco, who was chosen by Lackawanna County Common Pleas court judges to replace former Commissioner Matt McGloin from a pool of candidates determined by the Lackawanna County Democrat Committee.
The state's high court halted the appointment on Friday morning and agreed to hear an appeal of lower court rulings regarding the Home Rule charter process to fill in a vacancy. According to the charter, a successor must be chosen from a list of three candidates provided by the Lackawanna County Democratic Committee. Commissioner Bill Gaughan argues that a state rule means it's up to the judges and not the party committee to vet and choose the replacement.
In separate news, Lauren Bieber Mailen was sworn in on Friday as the new Clerk of Judicial Records for Lackawanna County. Mailen is temporarily filling the role following the resignation of former Democratic Clerk Mauri Kelly earlier this week.