Paper says witness can link judge to mobster

Attorneys for the company that owns The Citizens'  Voice are challenging a $3.5 million verdict in a defamation case, saying they have a witness who will testify  that reputed mobster William D'Elia  is directly connected to either one or two of  the Luzerne County judges charged in an ongoing judicial corruption probe.

Judges Mark Ciavarella, who decided the defamation case, and Michael Conahan, who assigned the case to Ciavarella, pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in a $2.6 million kickback scheme involving juveniles sent to detention centers and are free awaiting sentencing. D'Elia, who is serving a federal prison sentence, was a central figure in the defamation case. 

For the complete story read The Times Leader tomorrow.