A Pennsylvania judge appointed nearly three years ago to review thousands of tainted juvenile convictions has finished his work.
The state Supreme Court said Thursday that Berks County Senior Judge Arthur Grim has completed his review of cases handled by former Luzerne County Judge Mark Ciavarella, Jr. The justices returned control of all juvenile court functions to the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.
Ciavarella was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison for taking $1 million in bribes from the owner and builder of a pair of for-profit youth detention centers. Former judge Michael Conahan pleaded guilty and is serving a 17 year prison term for the so-called "kids for cash" scandal.
The Supreme Court followed Grim's 2009 recommendation and dismissed the convictions of more than 2,000 juvenile offenders. The justices said Ciavarella disregarded the youths' constitutional rights, including the right to legal counsel and the right to intelligently enter a plea.
