Last month, the Court of Judicial Discipline ruled that former Superior Court Judge Michael Joyce and former Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael Toole were subject to discipline under the Pennsylvania Constitution as a result of their federal felony convictions. This may seem strange, given that both Joyce and Toole have been off the bench for several years, but it is actually very significant.
In 2008, Joyce was convicted of federal charges — including mail fraud — stemming from an insurance claim, and earlier this year, Joyce exhausted his appellate remedies. Similarly, Toole pleaded guilty to federal charges including making a false tax return and corrupt receipt of award for official action. Toole was sentenced earlier this year and has not appealed the sentence. Given the final nature of the convictions, the Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania filed charges against Joyce and Toole, seeking to have them barred from ever serving as a judge in Pennsylvania.
