The state House voted yesterday voted to create a commission to investigate problems in the Luzerne County Courthouse, where prosecutors say children were wrongly sentenced by judges who took kickbacks from operators of juvenile detention centers in Luzerne and Butler counties.

The bill passed unanimously in the House and now heads to the Senate, where the Appropriations Committee yesterday endorsed the legislation.

The legislation calls for the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice to be made up of 15 unpaid members who would have subpoena power and would investigate the "events, practices, processes, procedures and other authority in Luzerne County involving judges, attorneys, public officials, public employees, probation and parole officers and providers of juvenile services," according to the House bill.

The commission would be required to issue findings and recommendations by May 31, 2010.

Judges involved in the corruption scheme -- Michael J. Ciavarella and Michael T. Conahan -- have agreed to plead guilty and are expected to receive seven-and-a-half-year sentences.

The judges also face civil action being taken by the families of hundreds of children who appeared before them, some without counsel. Also named as civil defendants are other court personnel and the owners of the juvenile facilities, Hazelton attorney Robert Powell and Allegheny County businessman Greg Zappala.