Cleland to be Sandusky Judge

McKean County Senior Judge John Cleland will be hearing the matters related to the case of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.

Cleland was appointed to the case after all Centre County Common Pleas Court judges recused themselves, according to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.

Court officials said the judges recused themselves to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest due to real or perceived connections to Sandusky, The Second Mile charity he founded, or Penn State University.

Until Cleland assumes jurisdiction, petitions filed by counsel will be heard by President Judge Kathy Morrow of Perry and Juniata counties.

Neither judge has any known connections with Sandusky, Penn State, or The Second Mile, according to court officials.

Sandusky faces 40 criminal counts for sexually abusing eight boys over a 15-year period. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for December 13 in Centre County.

Judge Cleland has been a jurist since 1984. He has served as president judge of McKean County, and as both an active and senior judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. Judge Cleland also served as chairman of the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice following the "Kids for Cash" scandal in Luzerne County.

A senior judge is one who has retired from active service but remains available by appointment to hear cases.