Pennsylvania. Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
On this date in the state of “Virtue, Liberty and Independence” Judge Mark A. Ciavarella and Judge Michael T. Conahan plead guilty to wire and income tax fraud related to their receipt of $2.6 million in kickbacks they attempted to conceal using a Florida company they controlled.
For six years Judge Mark A. Ciavarella, Jr. doled out unusually harsh sentences to juvenile “offenders” passing through his courtroom while co-conspirator, Judge Michael T. Conahan arranged kickbacks from PA Child Care and Western PA Child Care— both privately operated youth detention centers— to remand approximately 5,000 juveniles into their custody.
According to the New York Times, the Juvenile Law Center brought Ciavarella’s courtroom practice of allowing juveniles to appear before him, without attorneys, to the attention of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The court initially refused to hear their petition then reversed itself once the judges’ evil conspiracy was made public.
We think this is an excellent indoctrination into the corruption plaguing the U.S. judicial system for these kids, their parents and the public at large— the tip of a very large iceberg.
Congratulations to the F.B.I. for outing these miscreants! That said, we’re reserving judgment on the work of Assistant United States Attorney Gordon A. Zubrod who negotiated a plea agreement under which both judges will serve 87 months in prison and resign. 5,000 kids scarred for life, the administration of justice upended, the public’s “faith” in the judicial system shattered and 7 years, 3 months is the best he could do?
Obviously, the punishment isn’t fitting the crime in this case. We’d like to hear public opinion on this matter.
First, what sentence should the judge impose in this case— public stoning carried out by the affected juveniles?
What should be done with the Supreme Court Judges who refused to hear the Juvenile Law Center’s petition?
Did anyone complain to the Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board about these judges? If so what was their response?
“Tip of the iceberg” is a mild forecast. This will continue to cost on many levels. Local attorneys are advertising a class action suit for affected families. What will regard for the legal system amount to for this generation and how will their children be raised? The cost to our community and it’s future is incalcuable.
1– Do both ex Judges forfeit their pensions and all benefits?
2– Is there a ongoing investigation to determine who in the Judiciary, clerical staff, etc., were aware of what was going on and did nothing?
According to the linked New York Times article, Pennsylvania law forbids payment of retirement benefits to judges convicted of a felony while in office. Therefore, the answer to #1 is yes.
We haven’t heard if there’s an on-going investigation regarding negligence or confederation in the scheme of members of the Pennsylvania the Judicial Conduct Board or the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline. Obviously, at a minimum the Judicial Conduct Board is inept.
The good people of the State of Pennsylvania and nearly every other state need to wake up and understand that letting lawyers and judges run their own discipline systems doesn’t work. It’s a cauldron of corruption. We know for a fact the FBI would like to do something about it but their hands are somewhat tied because they work for the Attorney General. Attorney being the operative term.
Attorneys and law firms are enormous donors to politicians both directly and indirectly. In order to effect change, politicians who take money from lawyers or special interest groups representing interests of the legal profession need to be voted out of office. Only then can the problems associated with judicial and attorney regulation / corruption be added to the national agenda.