2 Pa. judges seek immunity from civil lawsuits filed in wake of ‘kids for cash’ scandal

Judges seek immunity in Pa. ‘kids for cash’ case

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Two ex-judges from eastern Pennsylvania want to be dismissed as defendants in a series of civil lawsuits filed in the wake of a juvenile justice scandal.

Former Luzerne County judges Mark Ciavarella (shiv-uh-REL’-uh) and Michael Conahan already face criminal charges of taking $2.8 million in kickbacks to place juvenile defendants in private youth detention centers.

Now, they’re seeking judicial immunity from civil lawsuits filed on behalf of hundreds of youths they sentenced.

A federal judge in Wilkes-Barre heard arguments on Wednesday but did not immediately issue a decision.

Immunity is designed to give judges freedom to rule without fear of legal retribution. But plaintiffs’ attorneys say the judges’ conduct went beyond the scope of normal court business.