Free Republic

WILKES-BARRE — Lecturing attorneys from the bench in a 2005 hearing, Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Toole reminded them of the “ethical duty” judges and lawyers have to recuse themselves in cases where they have conflicts of interest. But Judge Toole didn’t reveal that he had his own possible conflict. He had a financial relationship with one of the attorneys appearing before him that day. After the hearing, he would rule in that attorney’s favor, court documents show. It was one of three 2005 cases involving the judge and the attorney, John D. Nardone. Judge Toole declined to comment on...