[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 30 (Thursday, March 9, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING JUDGE MARK CIAVARELLA, JR. AS HE IS NAMED ``MAN OF THE 
       YEAR'' BY THE WILKES-BARRE FRIENDLY SONS OF SAINT PATRICK

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                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 9, 2006

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Luzerne 
County Court of Common Pleas Judge Mark A. Ciavarella, Jr., who is 
being honored by the Wilkes-Barre Friendly Sons of St. Patrick as their 
2006 ``Man of the Year.''
  A son of Mary Cunningham Ciavarella and the late Mark A. Ciavarella, 
Sr., Judge Ciavarella was born and raised in the East End section of 
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
  Following his graduation from St. Mary's High School, he earned his 
Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in history/government and pre-law 
from King's College. While at King's he attained membership in the 
Aquinas Honor Society.
  He was awarded his Juris Doctorate degree from Duquesne University 
School of Law in 1975. While at Duquesne, he was inducted into the 
Order of Barristers, which is an organization that recognizes 
individuals who have attained outstanding achievement in appellate 
advocacy.
  From 1975 until 1995, Judge Ciavarella maintained a private law 
practice in the City of Wilkes-Barre. He was a partner in the law firm 
of Lowery, Ciavarella and Rogers.
  From 1976 until 1978, he served as solicitor for the City of Wilkes-
Barre and from 1978 until December 31, 1995 he served as solicitor for 
the Wilkes-Barre City Zoning Hearing Board.
  In November of 1995, he was elected to the Luzerne County Court of 
Common Pleas and in November 2005, he was retained by the voters of 
Luzerne County for another 10-year term.
  Judge Ciavarella was formerly a member of Wilkes-Barre Police Civil 
Service Commission; the pastoral council and finance committee of St. 
Therese's Church in Wilkes-Barre; Scranton Catholic Diocesan School 
Board; United Rehabilitation Services, Inc.; Wilkes-Barre Area School 
District Long Range Planning Committee; Wyoming Valley Catholic Youth 
Center Girls Co-Swim Coach and a member of the board of directors of 
the Luzerne County Association for Retarded Citizens.
  He also served as chairman of the Wyoming Valley Catholic Youth 
Center's Board of Directors and he was an assistant little league 
coach.
  Judge Ciavarella is currently a member of the Wyoming Valley Catholic 
Youth Center's Board of Directors and the Wilkes-Barre Chapter of 
UNICO.
  In addition to his duties handling criminal and civil judicial 
matters, he also serves as Luzerne County Juvenile Court Judge.
  Judge Ciavarella is married to the former Cindy Baer. The couple has 
three children.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Judge Ciavarella on the 
occasion of this fine honor. Judge Ciavarella has served his community 
well both on the bench of the Luzerne County Court and in the many 
leadership roles he has undertaken with numerous civic organizations. 
The quality of life in the greater Wyoming Valley is made better due to 
the works of people like Judge Mark Ciavarella.

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