Michael Joyce
This page is about the former Pennsylvania Superior Court judge. If you are looking for the judge of the Tenth Judicial District of Kansas, see: Michael Joyce (Kansas).
Michael T. Joyce was a judge on the Pennsylvania Superior Court, one of Pennsylvania's two statewide intermediate appellate courts. After a federal grand jury in Erie indicted Joyce on eight charges of insurance fraud in August 2007, Joyce retired in January 2008. He had served a 10-year term on the Superior Court.[1] In November 2008, Michael was found guilty of $440,000 of insurance fraud.
2011 Court of Judicial Discipline ruling
On July 27, 2011, the Court of Judicial Discipline issued a ruling against Joyce which stripped him of his office, his home and likely, his 81,000/year pension. The Court has officially prohibited Joyce from holding any judicial office in the state of Pennsylvania.[1]
Joyce was convicted in November 2008 for a $440,000 insurance fraud. He was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison in March 2009, and until July 2011, had been able to keep his pension. Wednesday's ruling references an article in the state Pennsylvania Constitution that prohibits pensions for any judge "removed or barred from holding judicial office for a conviction of a felony."[1] However, according to Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) spokeswoman Pamela Hile, SERS will review the Court's decision and will have the final say. SERS is the only agency that can order the forfeiture of a pension.[1]
Joyce's lawyer, John Quinn, argues Joyce should be able to keep his pension, stating that "his misdeeds did not affect the day-to-day administration of justice."[1] He was convicted on eight felony counts, two counts of mail fraud and six counts of money laundering. Joyce is guilty of swindling $390,000 from Erie Insurance Group and $50,000 from State Farm Insurance.[1]
Michael Joyce is set to be released from the Morgantown Federal Correction Institution on August 30, 2012.[1]
See also
External links
- Michael Joyce Press Release - Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania
- Erie TV News, "Disbarred Former Judge Michael Joyce Seeks Reinstatement to Practice Law in Pennsylvania," June 3, 2015
Footnotes
