SCRANTON — Two former Pennsylvania judges accused of taking millions of dollars in kickbacks to send juveniles to private detention facilities have been granted partial immunity from civil liability.

In an opinion issued Friday, U.S. District Judge Richard Caputo says former Luzerne County Judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella are entitled to partial immunity from civil lawsuits filed by former juvenile defendants.

Caputo says the doctrine of judicial immunity requires him to shield the judges from civil liability for any actions they took from the bench.

However, Caputo says the judges can still be sued for their actions off the bench.

Conahan and Ciavarella have both pleaded not guilty to federal racketeering charges.