Taking the Fifth » 2009 » February » 13

BILL OF RIGHTS-- First Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.-- Second Amendment -A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed-- Third Amendment - No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law-- Fourth Amendment - The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.-- Fifth Amendment - No person shall be held to answer for any capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.--Sixth Amendment - In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where in the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.-- Seventh Amendment - In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law-- Eighth Amendment - Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted-- Ninth Amendment - The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people--Tenth Amendment - The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people--.

CORRUPT JUDGES CONVICTED FOR INCARCERATING JUVENILES IN EXCHANGE FOR KICKBACKS

Two Pennsylvania Juvenile Court judges plead guilty in Federal Court to receiving kickbacks in exchange for sending juvenile to private jails between 2003 and 2007. Luzerne County (Wilkes Barre) j Court of Common Plea judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan plead guilty in Federal Court yesterday to fraud charges involving the receipt of money in exchange for sentencing juveniles to private jails. Federal prosecutors claim that between January 2003 and January 2007 Ciavarella and Conahan received $2,600,000 in kickbacks.

According to the Timesleader.com the judges will be sentenced to 87 months in prison and they will resign their judgeships as result of a plea bargain.

According to the Associated Press article juveniles were brought before the judges without attorneys and sentenced to lengthy sentences in private jails for minor offenses.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is considering the reversal of hundred or even thousands of juvenile court actions. Teenagers were locked up for months without legal representation for stealing loose4 change from cars, writing a prank note and possession of drug paraphernalia. One girl was sentenced to several months in the private jail for mocking her assistant principal on myspace.com.
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