SCRANTON — Jury selection is under way in the trial of a former northeastern Pennsylvania judge charged in a $2.8 million scheme to send juvenile offenders to privately run detention facilities.

Attorneys began questioning potential jurors this morning as the trial begins for former Luzerne County judge Mark Ciavarella.

The state Supreme Court threw out thousands of juvenile cases after charges were brought in January 2009 against Ciavarella and former county judge, Michael Conahan.

According to prosecutors, Conahan forced the county-run juvenile facility to close, then arranged for a friend to build the private facility. Ciavarella sent juvenile offenders to the lockup and to a sister facility while he was taking payments.

Conahan pleaded guilty to a single count of racketeering conspiracy and awaits sentencing.