Indicted judge suspended by Pa. court

[Ban Hammer 13,678]

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A judge accused of cheating two insurance companies out of $440,000 was suspended by Pennsylvania's highest court Friday.

The state Supreme Court said it was suspending Superior Court Judge Michael T. Joyce with pay "to protect and preserve the integrity of the Unified Judicial System and the administration of justice for the citizens of this Commonwealth."

Joyce, 58, told insurers that an August 2001 traffic accident left him in such pain that he was unable to exercise or play golf for more than a year. A federal indictment says he actually was playing 18-hole rounds on courses as far away as Jamaica, scuba diving, skating and working out at a local gym.

Joyce has said he is innocent of the mail fraud and money laundering charges against him. He released a statement Friday saying that he does not intend to appeal the suspension.

"It's normal procedure. It is an appropriate action under the circumstances to protect the integrity of the courts," he wrote.

Joyce said Thursday he still plans to stand for an up-or-down "retention" vote for a second 10-year term in the November election.

In the accident just outside of Erie, Joyce's 2001 Mercedes-Benz was rear-ended by a sport-utility vehicle traveling about 5 mph, prosecutors said. No police or medical personnel were called to the scene.

Joyce received $390,000 from his insurer and from the other driver's insurer, the indictment said.

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i wonder if he's related to the pants judge......