The state has now officially launched its probe into corruption in the Luzerne County court system.
A newly-formed commission held hearings in Harrisburg Wednesday, starting its effort to figure out how the alleged corruption happened and how it can be prevented.
"It is our intention to shine light on some very dark days in the Pennsylvania judiciary," said committee chairman Judge John Cleland. "This morning our commission begins its public hearings to assess the breathtaking collapse of the juvenile justice system in Luzerne County."
With that began a day of questions and comments about Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella, two Luzerne County judges accused of corruption, extortion, and racketeering.
"There is little doubt that their conduct, whether criminal or not, had disastrous consequences for the juvenile justice system that must be understood and prevented from happening again," Cleland added.
Lawmakers were the first to testify before the juvenile justice commission they created in response to the charges against Ciavarella and Conahan.
The commission's purpose is not to judge the two, but to find a way to keep corruption out of the courts, especially when it comes to young people.
"It is heartbreaking to know that my county is now known as the public corruption scandal capital," said Democratic Representative Todd Eachus.
Prosecutors said Conahan and Ciavarella worked with those who developed a juvenile detention center to keep the place full of kids in exchange for millions in cash.
The main testimony of day one came from a fellow judge. Chester Muroski detailed what he thinks went wrong in Luzerne County. The current president judge said the biggest thing that needs to be fixed in the courts is the power of president judges, like Conahan and Ciavarella.
"You have to understand, this method of ripping off the county and, in effect, of depriving these kids of their rights was so, so contrived and so many labyrinths, that I had no idea, and I don't think anyone else had any idea that money was involved," Muroski told the commission. "I didn't know how they did it but I knew something was going on."
He told the commission he went to the FBI with corruption concerns in 2006. He said former president judges Conahan and Ciavarella had a reign of power and secrecy, punishing and banishing those who questioned them.
"Conahan didn't talk to me. He had no conversations with me. He ignored me. I didn't exist," Judge Muroski testified. He added that with the power, they answered to no one.
"I'm sure our particular county, as I said inside, was the perfect storm. We had everything going against us that allowed this to happen," Muroski said outside the hearings.
Superior Court Judge Cleland's commission must now find a system to prevent that statewide.
"I just can't image this happening in my county or in other counties where there is just a total collapse and breakdown of the system," Cleland added.
The hearing was just the start for the commission. They want to hear from the attorneys, probation officers, young people and parents; all those affected by the corruption in Luzerne County courts.
Another hearing will be held in Wilkes-Barre November 9 and 10. Anyone who wants to testify is asked to contact the Administration Office of Pennsylvania Courts. A form with instructions is available online or by writing to:
The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts c/o Darren Breslin, 1515 Market Street, Suite 1414, Philadelphia, PA 19102.
Those who are not able to testify in person can submit a written testimony.
A newly-formed commission held hearings in Harrisburg Wednesday, starting its effort to figure out how the alleged corruption happened and how it can be prevented.
"It is our intention to shine light on some very dark days in the Pennsylvania judiciary," said committee chairman Judge John Cleland. "This morning our commission begins its public hearings to assess the breathtaking collapse of the juvenile justice system in Luzerne County."
With that began a day of questions and comments about Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella, two Luzerne County judges accused of corruption, extortion, and racketeering.
"There is little doubt that their conduct, whether criminal or not, had disastrous consequences for the juvenile justice system that must be understood and prevented from happening again," Cleland added.
Lawmakers were the first to testify before the juvenile justice commission they created in response to the charges against Ciavarella and Conahan.
The commission's purpose is not to judge the two, but to find a way to keep corruption out of the courts, especially when it comes to young people.
"It is heartbreaking to know that my county is now known as the public corruption scandal capital," said Democratic Representative Todd Eachus.
Prosecutors said Conahan and Ciavarella worked with those who developed a juvenile detention center to keep the place full of kids in exchange for millions in cash.
The main testimony of day one came from a fellow judge. Chester Muroski detailed what he thinks went wrong in Luzerne County. The current president judge said the biggest thing that needs to be fixed in the courts is the power of president judges, like Conahan and Ciavarella.
"You have to understand, this method of ripping off the county and, in effect, of depriving these kids of their rights was so, so contrived and so many labyrinths, that I had no idea, and I don't think anyone else had any idea that money was involved," Muroski told the commission. "I didn't know how they did it but I knew something was going on."
He told the commission he went to the FBI with corruption concerns in 2006. He said former president judges Conahan and Ciavarella had a reign of power and secrecy, punishing and banishing those who questioned them.
"Conahan didn't talk to me. He had no conversations with me. He ignored me. I didn't exist," Judge Muroski testified. He added that with the power, they answered to no one.
"I'm sure our particular county, as I said inside, was the perfect storm. We had everything going against us that allowed this to happen," Muroski said outside the hearings.
Superior Court Judge Cleland's commission must now find a system to prevent that statewide.
"I just can't image this happening in my county or in other counties where there is just a total collapse and breakdown of the system," Cleland added.
The hearing was just the start for the commission. They want to hear from the attorneys, probation officers, young people and parents; all those affected by the corruption in Luzerne County courts.
Another hearing will be held in Wilkes-Barre November 9 and 10. Anyone who wants to testify is asked to contact the Administration Office of Pennsylvania Courts. A form with instructions is available online or by writing to:
The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts c/o Darren Breslin, 1515 Market Street, Suite 1414, Philadelphia, PA 19102.
Those who are not able to testify in person can submit a written testimony.
