Pocono News Section

The Latest on Luzerne County Court Corruption

The Latest on Luzerne County Court Corruption - Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at 9:35PM EST

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- There are more developments in the federal investigation into corruption at the Luzerne County Courthouse.

It appears an embattled judge modified the sentences handed out by other judges. That's causing uproar in the courthouse. Those modifications could allow for special treatment or special favors for those convicted of crimes.

However that practice ended on Wednesday. President Judge Chester Muroski issued a one page order that makes sure sentences handed out by a judge cannot be changed or modified without the knowledge of that judge or the court administrator.

Judge Mark Ciavarella and Micheal Conahan are facing fraud charges and have been removed from the bench for allegedly accepting kickbacks in connection with a juvenile facility.

The modifications in question did not violate any law or statute, but they did anger several of the judges. One judge told us off camera that he was not even aware of any sentence modifications. They heard about it second and even third hand.