News

Supreme Court Revokes Toole's Pay and Benefits

December 29, 2009

HARRISBURG, December 30, 2009 - The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today terminated the salary and benefits of Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Toole following Toole's guilty plea to criminal charges in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Toole pleaded guilty yesterday (Tuesday, December 29) to a charge of defrauding the public of honest service in office and filing a false tax return. He agreed as part of his plea to resign from office within 10 days. Toole was charged, and a plea agreement was announced, by the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania on December 2, 2009. The following day, the Supreme Court relieved Toole of all judicial and administrative responsibilities and barred him from taking further action in any case or legal proceeding. He was permitted to remain on the judicial payroll until he formally entered his guilty plea. The Court's order terminating Toole's pay and benefits is available on the Web site of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System at the following link: http://www.pacourts.us/T/SupremeCourt/SupremePostings.htm