External Review Leads Changes Adopted by Judicial Conduct Board
The Legal Intelligencer
October 5, 2010
With seven new members appointed to the state's Judicial Conduct Board in the last few months, you'd think the board's bi-monthly meeting would be some sort of "getting to know you" event. Full Text
Chief Justice Outlines Pa. High Court's Response to Luzerne County Scandal
The Legal Intelligencer
October 5, 2010
Regrettably, I was unable to reach reporter Leo Strupczewski before his deadline for the recent article, "In the Wake of Luzerne Scandal, Change is Hard to Come By" ( Pennsylvania Law Weekly, published Sept. 28) even though I left a message on his voice mail. Full Text
Grand Jury Re-Indicts Ciavarella in Luzerne County Fraud Case
The Legal Intelligencer
September 30, 2010
A federal grand jury has handed down a superseding indictment against former Luzerne County Common Pleas Judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of the federal honest services fraud statute, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Full Text
Judge: Facility Owner's Insurer Has No Duty to Defend Luzerne Suits
The Legal Intelligencer
September 29, 2010
Gregory Zappala, the owner of the juvenile detention facility at the heart of the "kids-for-cash" judicial corruption scandal in Luzerne County, suffered a setback this week when a federal judge ruled that his insurer has no duty to defend him in a spate of civil suits. Full Text
In the Wake of Luzerne Scandal, Change Is Hard to Come By
The Legal Intelligencer
September 28, 2010
Shortly after the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice released its recommendations on how to fix the state's juvenile justice system in May, several individuals - from legislators to court watchers — said time would be one of the biggest roadblocks to implementing change. Full Text
Ruling Sets 'Landscape' for 'Kids-for-Cash' Civil Suits
The Legal Intelligencer
August 24, 2010
A federal court judge this week dismissed three defendants from civil suits related to the "kids-for-cash" scandal in Luzerne County, effectively clearing the way for the case to move forward. Full Text
Character Evidence Paints Picture of Convict Beyond Crime
The Legal Intelligencer
August 24, 2010
On July 30, former Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak petitioned friends and colleagues through his Facebook page to write character letters to the federal judge scheduled to sentence him for accepting a kickback from a local real estate contractor. Full Text
The Legal Intelligencer
August 11, 2010
Even the doctrine of absolute judicial immunity proved to be too weak a defense for the two disgraced former Luzerne County judges who are the leading figures in the "kids-for-cash" scandal.Full Text
Lessons Learned From Luzerne County: A member of the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice offers his viewsThe Legal Intelligencer
July 27, 2010
In my role as a member of the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice, I found myself reflecting back on my tenure as president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Full Text
The Legal Intelligencer
July 16, 2010
Two months after being accused of prosecutorial misconduct and "anchoring" its case to the testimony of "despicable characters," the state's Judicial Conduct Board responded to former Luzerne County Common Pleas Court Judge Ann H. Lokuta by arguing she had no evidence to support her claims. Full Text
Luzerne Co. Dismissed From Kids-for-Cash Suits
The Legal Intelligencer
July 13, 2010
The Luzerne County Courthouse
A federal judge has ruled that Luzerne County cannot be held liable in the kids-for-cash corruption scandal that has led to criminal charges against two of the county's ex-judges because no county officials with policymaking authority played any role in the alleged scheme. Full Text
Pa. Supreme Court Shouldn't Let JCB Off the Hook
The Legal Intelligencer
June 15, 2010
Of all the system failures that led to the Luzerne County judicial scandal, one of the worst was the Judicial Conduct Board's whiffing on a detailed complaint against former judge Michael T. Conahan that alleged case fixing, mob ties, and the basics of the "kids-for-cash" scheme. Now that the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice has issued its report, it's up to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to make sure the JCB undergoes meaningful reform. Full Text
