February 12, 2009 at 1:00 p.m.
William J. Nealon United States Courthouse
Scranton, PA
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The Court has scheduled the formal arraignment hearing for Judges Ciavarella and Conahan for 1pm on Thursday, February 12 at the US District Courthouse in Scranton. At the arraignment hearing the prosecuting attorneys will lay out all the facts that led to the charges and then outline the plea agreement that both Judges entered into. The Federal Judge will likely accept the plea agreement and then set a date for sentencing, which will probably take place in the next three months. The hearing will likely take less than one hour. The arraignment hearing is open to the public. The sentencing hearing will also be open to the public.

More information on the federal prosecution [United States Attorney's Office]

Family Input in Sentencing

Many people have expressed that they would like to provide the US Attorneys with statements regarding how these Judges’ wrongdoings affected their children and their families. If you believe that you were a victim as part of the Luzerne County corruption prosecutions, and if you want to learn more about your rights as a victim, please contact Laurie Reiley at 1-866-673-7340. You may also send a statement explaining why you feel you are a victim at the following address that will be considered during the sentencing phase.

United States Attorney’s Office
Middle District of Pennsylvania
Attention: Laurie Reiley
P.O. Box 1023
Harrisburg, PA 17108

If you have retained Juvenile Law Center for legal representation in this matter, Juvenile Law Center will collect your statements and send them to the Victim-Witness Coordinator at the US Attorneys Office so the Prosecution can consider it when seeking a sentence. Juvenile Law Center may also ask you if you would like to share your story with the press. However, no stories will be shared without the permission of the families. Families who have retained Juvenile Law Center may send their statements to luzernefamilies@jlc.org or to:

Juvenile Law Center
Attn: Luzerne Victims
1315 Walnut St., 4th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107

The United States Attorney's Office website has more information on the federal prosecution. Finally, if you believe that you have information relating to criminal wrongdoing please contact FBI Special Richard Southerton at 570-344-2404 or the IRS at 570-969-5300.