State judge accused of insurance fraud to run for retention
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A Pennsylvania Superior Court judge indicted this week on charges of mail fraud and money laundering still plans to seek retention in November's election.
Judge Michael T. JoyceClick photo for larger image.
Judge Michael Thomas Joyce, 58, of Erie, was charged with nine separate counts stemming from two insurance claims he filed related to a car accident.
According to the 13-page indictment, Judge Joyce was in his 2001 Mercedes-Benz when he was involved in a low-speed car accident on Aug. 10, 2001.
Neither medical nor law enforcement personnel were called to the scene. However, 11 months later, Judge Joyce filed a bodily injury claim with State Farm Insurance, who held the other driver's policy, as well as his own company, Erie Insurance Group.
According to the indictment, Judge Joyce claimed he had "constant neck and back pain, excruciating headaches, serious discomfort and difficulty sleeping."
He also contended he had short-term memory loss and for a while thought he might have Lou Gehrig's disease.
In his claims, the judge said that the accident had impacted his personal and professional life, rendering him unable to golf, scuba dive or exercise. Further, he said that it prevented him from pursuing a seat on the state Supreme Court, for which he claimed he had received the Republican nomination, when he had not.
Prosecutors allege that during the same time period, Judge Joyce played multiple rounds of golf in Jamaica, Florida and New York; went scuba diving in Jamaica; and renewed his diving instructor certificate.
In addition, he went roller blading, exercised at a fitness club and applied for and received a private pilot's license, flying approximately 50 times.
Mr. Joyce used the two payments that he received, which totaled $440,000, to open an individual brokerage account, through which he purchased property in Millcreek Township, an interest in a 1978 Cessna 206 airplane, as well as a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, the indictment alleges.
In a written statement, Judge Joyce said that he is innocent until proven guilty and vowed to continue to seek voter approval for a second 10-year term on the appellate court.
"I'm disappointed in the grand jury's decision, but I am more than confident that when the facts are laid out, it will be clear that these charges have no merit," he said.
According to the state Judicial Conduct Board, Judge Joyce is not legally required to step down because of the indictment. However, the board may petition the Court of Judicial Discipline for an interim suspension pending resolution of the charges.
The issue quickly became political when state Democratic Party Chairman T.J. Rooney sent out his own statement yesterday, saying that Judge Joyce should do "the honorable thing" and not run for re-election.
"It is absolutely incomprehensible to me as to how a judge would subject himself to this kind of negative publicity and still have the audacity to ask to serve the public rather than excuse himself from the process and demonstrating humility and remorse," Mr. Rooney said.
Judge Joyce is the first high-profile Republican officeholder indicted here since U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan took office in 2001.
Judge Joyce first ran for Erie County Common Pleas Court in 1985. He was elected to the Superior Court in 1997.
This year, the judge will be paid $165,343.
First Published August 16, 2007 10:19 pm
