Defense Rests Without Pennsylvania Judge Taking Stand

The defense has rested without a retired Pennsylvania appellate judge testifying about charges that he faked or exaggerated neck and back injuries to collect $440,000 from two insurance companies.

Federal prosecutors in Pittsburgh have begun calling rebuttal witnesses, including an FBI agent. Special Agent Kelly Smith says other judges gave testimony on behalf of former Superior Court Judge Michael Joyce that wasn’t “consistent” with what they told him before trial.

The judges, including Superior Court Judge Kate Ford Elliott, testified that Joyce was in pain after the August 2001 traffic accident in question.

Prosecutors say Joyce didn’t curtail his active lifestyle and career after what amounted to a fender bender. But the defense says the injuries were legitimate and greatly affected Joyce.