In 2011, Judge John Cleland was assigned the case of former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky, who stands accused multiple counts of child molestation. 

Cleland was appointed judge following the recusal of all the judges on the Centre County Court of Common Pleas.  The judges stepped aside to prevent any bias or perceived bias in their affiliation with Penn State University or the Second Mile Charity founded by Sandusky.

Cleland received his undergraduate degree from Denison University and in 1972, his J.D. The National Law Center of The George Washington University, 1972.

Cleland began his legal career as a law clerk for United States District Judge Barron P. McCune. After that, he went into the private practice in law until his appointment to the McKean County Court of Common Pleas in 1984. 

He served on the court from 1984 to 2008. That year, he was appointed an interim judge on the Pennsylvania Superior Court. After one year on the court, he became a senior judge for the courts on which he had previously served.