An order Thursday by Pennsylvania's Supreme Court clears the way for hundreds, possibly thousands, of juvenile court cases in Luzerne County to be overturned.
The order deals specifically with cases handled by former judge Mark Ciavarella over a five-year period. In light of the corruption scandal at the Luzerne County courthouse, the state appointed a so-called Special Master to look into thousands of juvenile cases that went before Ciavarella from January 2003 through May 2008.
Earlier this year, Ciavarella pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with a corruption scandal that includes accusations of taking kickbacks for sending kids to a privately-run juvenile detention center in Pittston Township. Former judge Michael Conahan also pleaded guilty in the same case. They're accused of pocketing more than $2.5 million in kickbacks.
Thursday's order by the state Supreme Court approves an interim recommendation by the Special Master that juvenile cases which meet certain standards should be overturned. Those cases include ones in which juveniles appeared in Ciavarella's courtroom without a lawyer.
At this time, it's not known exactly how many juvenile cases will be overturned in Luzerne County.
On Friday, March 27, ABC's "20/20" will include a segment about the corruption scandal in Luzerne County. You can see "20/20" at 10 p.m. Friday on WNEP-TV.
The order deals specifically with cases handled by former judge Mark Ciavarella over a five-year period. In light of the corruption scandal at the Luzerne County courthouse, the state appointed a so-called Special Master to look into thousands of juvenile cases that went before Ciavarella from January 2003 through May 2008.
Earlier this year, Ciavarella pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with a corruption scandal that includes accusations of taking kickbacks for sending kids to a privately-run juvenile detention center in Pittston Township. Former judge Michael Conahan also pleaded guilty in the same case. They're accused of pocketing more than $2.5 million in kickbacks.
Thursday's order by the state Supreme Court approves an interim recommendation by the Special Master that juvenile cases which meet certain standards should be overturned. Those cases include ones in which juveniles appeared in Ciavarella's courtroom without a lawyer.
At this time, it's not known exactly how many juvenile cases will be overturned in Luzerne County.
On Friday, March 27, ABC's "20/20" will include a segment about the corruption scandal in Luzerne County. You can see "20/20" at 10 p.m. Friday on WNEP-TV.
