Mathematics, the law, and birds

A Pennsylvania judge allegedly used simple mathematics to decide how long a newly convicted felon would stay in prison, according to a December 29, 2009 Citizensvoice report (thanks to Ted Nimes for bringing it to our attention):

Former Luzerne County Judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. sentenced one former juvenile defendant to six months at a detention facility based solely on the number of birds perched on the ledge outside his courtroom, attorneys for the defendant, now 21, charged in a lawsuit Monday.

BONUS: Click on the image for a tour of the courthouse.