One day after a ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court opened the door for hundreds, possibly thousands, of juvenile cases to be overturned in Luzerne County, one family says the fight for justice is far from over.
Newswatch 16 spoke with Hillary Transue, 17, of White Haven. She was sentenced by now former Luzerne County Judge Mark Ciavarella. She says she's thrilled by Thursday's order from the state Supreme Court.
"Something that was generally a negative thing has turned into something so positive," said Hillary.
The state Supreme Court has cleared the way for juvenile crimninal records such as Hillary's to be erased. The records concern young people who were wrongly sent to a juvenile detention center by Ciavarella. in February, he and and former judge Michael Conahan pleaded guilty to taking millions for keeping that detention center in Pittston Township up and running.
"Like these are children whose lives he just blew off for some money," said Hillary, "and I think that is completely heartless and inhumane."
Hillary was sentenced in 2007 for mocking a school official on an Internet Web site. She knew she would get in trouble, but she never expected to be locked up.
Laurene Transue, Hillary's mother, says she sounded the alarm about Ciavarella after her daughter's sentencing. She calls the state Supreme Court's order fantastic.
"It was just like a moment when you felt like the heavens open up and you're, like, 'Yes! Yes!'" Transue told Newswatch 16.
While things really have opened up in the Transues' lives, the ordeal isn't yet over. They say they want justice for all the juveniles and their families who were hurt by Ciavarella.
"There are so many who are still waiting for justice," said Laurene, "but, this being the first wave, it is very, very exciting."
"I definitely have a lot of concern for all the other juveniles and their families who haven't been expunged, but this is one of the first steps," added Hillary.
The Luzerne County District Attorney's office and lawyers from the Juvenile Law Center will now begin the process of looking through the thousands of cases handled by Ciavarella to see which ones may be overturned.
Newswatch 16 spoke with Hillary Transue, 17, of White Haven. She was sentenced by now former Luzerne County Judge Mark Ciavarella. She says she's thrilled by Thursday's order from the state Supreme Court.
"Something that was generally a negative thing has turned into something so positive," said Hillary.
The state Supreme Court has cleared the way for juvenile crimninal records such as Hillary's to be erased. The records concern young people who were wrongly sent to a juvenile detention center by Ciavarella. in February, he and and former judge Michael Conahan pleaded guilty to taking millions for keeping that detention center in Pittston Township up and running.
"Like these are children whose lives he just blew off for some money," said Hillary, "and I think that is completely heartless and inhumane."
Hillary was sentenced in 2007 for mocking a school official on an Internet Web site. She knew she would get in trouble, but she never expected to be locked up.
Laurene Transue, Hillary's mother, says she sounded the alarm about Ciavarella after her daughter's sentencing. She calls the state Supreme Court's order fantastic.
"It was just like a moment when you felt like the heavens open up and you're, like, 'Yes! Yes!'" Transue told Newswatch 16.
While things really have opened up in the Transues' lives, the ordeal isn't yet over. They say they want justice for all the juveniles and their families who were hurt by Ciavarella.
"There are so many who are still waiting for justice," said Laurene, "but, this being the first wave, it is very, very exciting."
"I definitely have a lot of concern for all the other juveniles and their families who haven't been expunged, but this is one of the first steps," added Hillary.
The Luzerne County District Attorney's office and lawyers from the Juvenile Law Center will now begin the process of looking through the thousands of cases handled by Ciavarella to see which ones may be overturned.
