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Juvenile Justice Hearings Begin in Harrisburg

Juvenile Justice Hearings Begin in Harrisburg - Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 6:00PM EST

Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 @ 06:00pm EDT
HARRISBURG -- How did two Luzerne County judges control the court system and violate the rights of juveniles? Just some of the questions a special state justice commission are trying to answer.

The commission is trying to make sure the kids for cash scheme never happens again.

It was a day filled with emotion, disbelief and for some downright anger. The Juvenile Justice Commission, comprised of experts from all aspects of the juvenile court system, is trying to find out how Luzerne County's court system, under the control of judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan, in their words, was out of control.

They were indicted for allegedly taking millions of dollars in kickbacks to send kids to juvenile detention centers in which they had a financial connection. Many kids were sent away for no good reason.

President Judge Chester Muroski, who took control of the courts when federal investigators moved in, tried to explain what many in the system describe was "a culture of secrecy."

"You have to understand that this method of ripping off the county and in effect depriving these kids of the rights was so contrived I had no idea, I don't think anybody, nobody had any idea money was involved," said Muroski.

One of the panelists asks Muroski, "Did you discuss this with any of your colleagues? What was going on?Ó

Muroski replied, ÒSome said oh come on! That can't be. I just told them I knew I was not close to them I had gone to the F. B.I."

Also testifying today, State Senator Lisa Baker and House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, both of whom helped create this special commission. "I hope to get to the truth, the truth about what happened here, how our children could have possibly been submitted to this injustice," said Eachus.

The work of this commission is on the fast track. They have to have a final report with recommendations by May of 2010 to make sure this kind of judicial scandal never happens again in Pennsylvania.

The commission will hold hearings in Wilkes-Barre on November 9th and 10th. Juveniles and their parents are expected to testify.
 


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