Luzerne County Assistant Solicitor Paula Radick has been chosen as the temporary leader of the county’s judicial services and records division, as announced by county Manager Romilda Crocamo on Wednesday.
Joan Hoggarth will step down from her role as division head on May 20 due to retirement.
This division head is responsible for overseeing the deeds, wills, sheriff, coroner and civil/criminal court records departments, as well as the county records storage facility in Hanover Township.
Radick, a resident of Hazle Township, was described by Crocamo as a graduate of MMI Preparatory School, King’s College, and the Dickinson School of Law.
In her current position as assistant solicitor in the county law office, Radick has mainly dealt with election board matters.
Crocamo mentioned that Radick has experience working with the offices under the judicial services division, including those handling deeds and civil and criminal court records.
Crocamo also stated that Radick has trial experience in both state and federal courts.
According to Crocamo, Radick has previously worked in both the public and private law sectors, holding positions in the county District Attorney’s Office and as a law clerk in federal magistrate court in Pennsylvania’s Middle District and the county Court of Common Pleas.
As part of her community service, Radick is involved with the Hazleton Public Library and Hazleton Art League boards.
Hoggarth, a resident of Hanover Township, is the longest-serving among the eight division heads.
She was appointed as division head in May 2013, just over a year after the implementation of the home rule government structure in January 2012.
The county’s home rule charter allows interim division heads to serve for 90 days in each calendar year.
Crocamo stated that the division head position will soon be advertised.
The manager’s nominees for division head must receive confirmation from the council in order to be hired. The county currently has eight division heads.
