Penn. Superior Court Judge Disbarred for Insurance Fraud Seeks Reinstatement

A former Pennsylvania Superior Court judge who was disbarred after his federal conviction for a $440,000 auto insurance fraud wants his law license reinstated.

The Erie Times-News reports 66-year-old Michael Joyce will have a hearing before the Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Board June 24.

Joyce says in his request that he accepts “full responsibility” for his actions and acknowledges bringing “embarrassment and discredit” on the “judiciary and legal profession.”

The Office of Disciplinary Counsel is opposing the reinstatement because Joyce was a sitting judge when he exaggerated neck and back injuries from a slow-speed crash to collect the insurance settlement which led to his 2008 insurance fraud conviction.

Joyce was sentenced to 46 months in prison and was released three years ago. He’s working as a paralegal for $50,000 a year.