HARRISBURG — A state senator wants to require juveniles to have a lawyer in court, one of several bills planned after hundreds of youth convictions were thrown out because of judicial corruption in northeastern Pennsylvania, a top aide said today.

The bills being written by Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Luzerne, are designed to add protection to the rights of juveniles and help address the legal mess left by two judges who pleaded guilty to taking millions of dollars in kickbacks from youth detention centers.

Juveniles in Pennsylvania currently may waive the right to a lawyer, but only after a judge's thorough questioning to ensure they understand their legal rights. Those steps were not being taken in the courtroom of former Luzerne County President Judge Mark Ciavarella, authorities say.

The state Supreme Court on Thursday overturned hundreds of convictions and ruled Ciavarella violated the constitutional rights of youth offenders who appeared in his courtroom without lawyers between 2003 and 2008.

Baker also is working on legislation that would grant more public access to juvenile cases as a way of adding a layer of oversight.

By The Associated Press