April 3, 2009
Luzerne judge robbed youth of justice
As chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, elected to serve as a voice for minorities in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I am appalled by the behavior and corrupt practices of former Luzerne County Judge Mark Ciavarella, who pleaded guilty to corruption for sending juveniles to local detention centers, juveniles who often did not have the aid of legal counsel, for financial kickbacks.
Our judges have the responsibility of ensuring justice and protecting the rights of all our citizens. The right to due process of law, regardless of race, creed, color, age or gender is one of many rights granted by the U.S. Constitution that makes this nation’s democracy a success. However, in this instance, the judge used his power not to advance the cause of justice but to usurp it; not to relieve the oppressed and protect the vulnerable, but to persecute and victimize the most defenseless. For this reason, he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
By selling his verdicts, Judge Ciavarella betrayed adolescents appearing before him seeking justice and betrayed the office for which he took an oath to uphold. Individuals who sat by silently and said nothing while these youth were wrongfully convicted and unjustly sentenced have acted as co-conspirators in this treason against our nation and its citizens.
This case begs us to scrutinize Pennsylvania's criminal justice system. Pennsylvania leads the nation, and other developed nations from which statistical data can be collected, in the highest number of incarcerations with nearly 500 juveniles sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Many of the juveniles are people of color.
I applaud the decision of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to overturn the convictions of juveniles who were unjustly incarcerated. I promise, along with my colleagues of the PLBC, to do what I can to ensure that all people, our youth especially, are protected by our justice system, not endangered and exploited by it.
Ronald G. Waters
State Representative
191st Legislative District