Pa. court orders judge to step aside

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court yesterday ordered the suspension of appeals court Judge Michael T. Joyce, two days after he was indicted by a federal grand jury in an alleged insurance scam.

The state's highest court cited the indictment and said there was a "compelling and immediate need to protect and preserve the integrity" of the court system.

The justices ordered Joyce to take no "further administrative or judicial action whatsoever in any case" until further order of the high court. The suspension was with pay.

Joyce, 58, a Republican who is running for a second 10-year term on Superior Court in November, was charged in the nine-count indictment with mail fraud and money laundering.

He is accused of fraudulently collecting $440,000 in insurance proceeds after a 2001 "low-speed" car accident that occurred as he was driving his Mercedes-Benz in Western Pennsylvania.

Formerly a judge on Erie County Court, Joyce is the first Pennsylvania appellate judge to face criminal charges in more than a decade.

In 1994, Justice Rolf Larsen was convicted in Allegheny County Court of conspiring to illegally obtain anti-anxiety drugs through prescriptions written in the names of his employees. He was stripped of his office at sentencing.

Joyce's attorney, David Ridge, could not be reached for comment yesterday. In a statement released by his campaign office, Joyce said he had anticipated the suspension and "will not appeal the court's decision."

In a statement after the indictment, Joyce said the charges "have no merit" and promised to remain in the race.

According to the indictment, Joyce collected $440,000 from two insurance companies after claiming that an August 2001 car accident left him in excruciating pain.

He contended that he had problems concentrating and could not play golf or go swimming, jogging or scuba diving, and that he even gave up on his desire to run for a seat on the Supreme Court, the indictment states.

In fact, the indictment alleges, Joyce played golf in Jamaica, Florida, New York and Western Pennsylvania, and also went scuba diving and roller blading, and worked out at the gym.

The indictment states that Joyce used the proceeds of the scheme to buy property and a motorcycle, and put a down payment on an airplane.