News

Commission on Juvenile Justice Sets Public Hearings

October 09, 2009

HARRISBURG, October 9, 2009 - On October 14, beginning at 9 a.m. in the Judicial Council Room of the Pennsylvania Judicial Center (PJC), 601 Commonwealth Ave., Harrisburg, the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice, which is investigating failures in the juvenile justice system in Luzerne County, will hold its first hearing. Your coverage is invited. The hearing is expected to last through the afternoon. Please note: There will be limited seating in the Council Room for the media and public, however, PCN will provide pool camera coverage to be transmitted live to the nearby PJC Amphitheater. TV stations can pick up a live feed of the hearing from the PJC’s Press Box located on the North Street side of the building. An audio mult-box will be provided within the Council Room for radio stations. Commission Chairman John M. Cleland said the commission is scheduled to hear testimony from Luzerne County President Judge Chester B. Muroski on reorganization and reform measures taken since the disclosure of a judicial corruption scandal in the county earlier this year. Cleland, a judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court, said other scheduled witnesses will include officials of the state Judicial Conduct Board and the state Disciplinary Board who have been asked to testify about ethical standards governing the conduct of judges and lawyers (see attached hearing agenda). Judge Cleland will be available to speak with reporters briefly during the noon break and at the conclusion of the hearings. The commission has scheduled further hearings in Wilkes-Barre on November 9 and 10. Juveniles whose cases were heard by former Judge Mark A. Ciavarella in Luzerne County and other individuals who wish to testify in November are asked to contact: The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts c/o Darren Breslin 1515 Market Street - Suite 1414 Philadelphia, Pa. 19102 A witness form with instructions is available online at: http://www.pacourts.us/Links/Public/InterbranchCommissionJuvenileJustice.htm