HARRISBURG — A special prosecutor has been appointed to examine whether secrecy rules were violated in grand jury proceedings that investigated Jerry Sandusky and three former Penn State administrators who are facing criminal charges.

Lawyer James M. Reeder was given six months to look into the matter, according to a Feb. 8 order from Judge Barry Feudale first reported today by The Associated Press.

The order relates to the 33rd Statewide Investigating Grand Jury, which issued reports in 2011 and 2012 that led to molestation charges against Sandusky and perjury charges against former Penn State president Graham Spanier, former athletic director Tim Curley and retired vice president Gary Schultz.

Pennsylvania investigative grand juries often work on more than one matter, and it was unclear from the document whether the possible secrecy violations were related to the Penn State cases or other cases before the panel. The order also applies to a Dauphin County grand jury investigation that in January 2008 reported on a casino license investigation.

Judge Feudale have been trying to sort out a legal dispute involving whether former Penn State lawyer Cynthia Baldwin should have been present at a grand jury proceeding.