Top Pa. Court Reverses Perhaps 1,200 Juvenile Convictions

In the latest chapter in an ongoing state-court corruption saga in Pennsylvania, a state supreme court ruling today is expected to reverse perhaps as many as 1,200 juvenile court convictions entered by a now-convicted judge.

The ruling affects juvenile convictions between 2003 and 2008 in cases heard by the former president judge of Luzerne County, Mark Ciavarella Jr., reports the Associated Press.

The AP put the number of juvenile convictions at issue perhaps in the hundreds, but the Philadelphia Inquirer reports they could total 1,200.

He and a judicial colleague pleaded guilty last month in criminal cases concerning some $2.6 million in kickbacks they allegedly accepted in exchange for sending juveniles to a detention facility then reportedly owned, in part, by an attorney, as discussed in earlier ABAJournal.com posts.

The exact number of convictions to be reversed isn't given in the court's order (PDF), reports the New York Times. A special master is looking into the situation.

“This order represents another positive step in the court’s resolve to restore public trust and confidence in the juvenile justice system of Luzerne County,” says the supreme court's chief justice, Ronald Castille, in a written statement.

Related earlier coverage:

ABAJournal.com: "3rd Pa. Judge on Hot Seat; Will Juvenile Convictions Be Reversed?"

ABAJournal.com: "2 Judges to Plead in Jailing Juveniles for Profit Case, But What About the Kids?"

ABAJournal.com: "Judge Gets Chance to Argue Corrupt Colleagues Orchestrated Her Ouster"

Updated at 8:30 p.m. to include subsequent Philadelphia Inquirer coverage.