[naviga:h3]Former judge gets appeal hearing[/naviga:h3]

HARRISBURG — A former Pennsylvania judge serving a 28-year prison term for a scandal that became known as “kids for cash” has secured an appeals hearing to overturn some of his convictions.

An evidentiary hearing is set for Sept. 14 in Harrisburg.

Former Luzerne County Judge Mark Ciavarella was convicted of accepting bribes in exchange for ordering kids to a for-profit detention center. He denies any wrongdoing and is seeking to reduce his sentence based on a U.S. Supreme Court decision.

The decision holds an official must exercise governmental power in order to be guilty of honest services mail fraud. Ciavarella was convicted was convicted on 12 charges in total, including four counts of honest services mail fraud.

[naviga:h3]Trooper who forged name gets 4 years[/naviga:h3]

PITTSBURGH — A retired state trooper who forged a dead judge’s signature to avoid paying part of his pension to his ex-wife will spend nearly four years in prison.

Fifty-one-year-old Steven Grados of Monongahela was convicted of mail fraud and forging and counterfeiting a federal court seal in February. Grados was sentenced to 46 months in prison and fined $7,500 by U.S. District Judge Kim Gibson in Johnstown.

[naviga:h3]Casey leads pack in fundraising[naviga:h3][/naviga:h3]

HARRISBURG — Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey easily leads the pack in fundraising as he runs for a third term in next year’s election.

Casey reported $5.6 million in his campaign account as of June 30, the latest date for which Senate candidates must disclose campaign finances. That’s almost twice what Casey had at the same point while running for his current term.

His nearest rival is Jeffrey Bartos, a Republican and real estate investor from suburban Philadelphia. Bartos reports just over $1 million, boosted by a $500,000 loan from him. Paul Addis, a Republican and former energy-sector executive also from suburban Philadelphia, reports just over $100,000, nearly all of it a loan from himself.