Judge Michael T. Joyce was born on February 24, 1949 in Pittsburgh. Joyce served in Vietnam as an Intelligence Staff Sergeant from 1967 to 1970. Upon his return, Joyce completed an undergraduate degree from Penn State and received his JD from Franklin Pierce Law Center in 1977. Joyce was also a Law Clerk for President Gerald Ford in 1975.
Judge Joyce was elected to the Court of Common Pleas, in Erie County, to 10-year terms in 1985 and 1995. In November 1997, Joyce was elected to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
Judge Joyce was a member of the Pennsylvania Trial Judges Association, American Judicature Society, American Judges Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Penn State Behrend Athlete’s Hall of Fame, Erie County Bar Association, Penn State Alumni Association, the Domestic Relations Association of Pennsylvania, Vietnam Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of Pennsylvania, American Legion, Millcreek Youth Athletic Association and served as an Explorer leader, Boy Scouts of America.
Judge Joyce is a licensed SCUBA diving instructor certified by both the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) and the National Association of Dive Instructors (NAUI) and a member of the Erie County Sheriff’s Scuba Rescue and Recovery Dive Team. He is also a private pilot and a member of the Airplane Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).