Tarah Toohil
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Tarah Toohil | |
---|---|
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 116th district | |
In office January 4, 2011 – January 1, 2022 | |
Preceded by | Todd Eachus |
Personal details | |
Born | October 1, 1979 |
Political party | Republican |
Residence | Butler Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania |
Alma mater | Northeastern University (BA) Pennsylvania State University (JD) |
Occupation | Attorney, politician |
Tarah C. Toohil (born October 1, 1979) is an American attorney and politician, who served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives until 2021. She is currently a Judge on the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.
Early life and education[]
Toohil graduated from Hazleton Area High School in 1998. She majored in political science and sociology, with a concentration in law and legal services, at Northeastern University, graduating in 2003. Toohil earned a Juris Doctor degree from Penn State Dickinson Law in 2008.[1] While in law school, she worked as a certified legal intern for Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico.
Career[]
In 2010, Toohil was elected to represent the 116th District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. She defeated then-House Majority Leader Todd Eachus to gain the seat. During the 2019-20 legislative session, Toohil serves as a member of the House Children and Youth (vice chair), Government Oversight, Human Services, Judiciary, Professional Licensure and Rules committees.[1]
In 2012, legislation sponsored by Toohil was enacted that amended the powers and duties of Pennsylvania's Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission.[2] The need for the changes grew out of Luzerne County's "Kids for Cash" scandal in 2008.
In 2014, she sponsored a new law increasing funding support for legal services to the disadvantaged in Pennsylvania.[2] Another bill Toohil sponsored was enacted that removed the Pennsylvania licensing requirement for fitters of diabetic shoes.[2]
In 2016, Toohil legislation sponsored by Toohil was enacted that reduced the length of time from two years to one year for a no-fault divorce in Pennsylvania.[2]
Toohil sponsored a measure enacted in 2018 that banned the sale of over-the-counter cough medicines containing dextromethorphan to minors in Pennsylvania.[2]
In 2019, legislation she sponsored was enacted specifying that civil confidentiality agreements do not cover communications with law enforcement.[2] The proposal was one of the recommendations made by the 40th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury that examined clergy sex abuse in Pennsylvania's Roman Catholic dioceses.[3] Toohil also sponsored an adoption reform law regarding the witnessing of an adoption consent agreement for an incarcerated parent in Pennsylvania.[2]
In 2020, Toohil was named the winner of the Athena Business Woman of the Year Award by the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce. Her "dedication to the youth of the community, and mentoring young girls to strive for their goals, was a key aspect of her application," according to the chamber. Also during 2020, Toohil was recognized by the Pennsylvania Bar Association for her work on issues relating to family law.
In 2021, legislation Toohil sponsored was enacted that prohibits life and health insurance companies from discriminating against living organ donors in Pennsylvania.[4]
Toohil is a co-founder of "Brandon's Forever Home," a Pennsylvania charity that assists foster children.[5]
Toohil serves as a board member for the Free 2B Mom program, which was launched in 2019 by Geisinger Health to assist pregnant women and new mothers with opioid use disorder in Columbia, Luzerne, Montour and Northumberland counties.
Toohil is against legalizing adult-use cannabis in Pennsylvania, citing concerns for a potential negative impact on children.[6]
In 2021, Toohil ran for the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas. She was successful, and effectively resigned from the House of Representatives on January 1, 2022.[7] She was sworn in as a judge on January 3, 2022.[8]
Personal life[]
Toohil resides in Drums, Luzerne County, with her husband Scot Burkhardt and their children.[9]
In 2012, an anonymous person posted videos allegedly of Toohil at a party smoking marijuana as blackmail against her anti-marijuana legalization stance. Pennsylvania State Police launched an investigation into the matter.[10]
Toohil formerly dated Delaware County Republican representative Nick Miccarelli. In 2018, Toohil stated that Miccarelli made threats against her and sexually abused her during and after their relationship. She was granted a restraining order against Miccarelli in 2018.[11] Miccarelli has been accused by other women of sexual harassment leading to the revokation of his security privileges at the state capitol and his retirement from the legislature in 2018.[12]
References[]
- ^ a b "Representative Tarah Toohil". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Statutes of Pennsylvania and the Constitution of Pennsylvania". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
- ^ "Pennsylvania Attorney General - Grand Jury Report". www.attorneygeneral.gov. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
- ^ "Bill Information - House Bill 203; Regular Session 2021-2022". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
- ^ Staff Reports. "Brandon's Forever Home honored". Archived from the original on 17 October 2018. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
- ^ "Toohil Questions Timing of Wolf's Renewed Call for Legalizing Marijuana | PA State Rep. Tarah Toohil". www.reptoohil.com. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
- ^ Learn-Andes, Jennifer (2022-01-07). "Schnee eyes Toohil's former state seat". Times Leader. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Learn-Andes, Jennifer (2021-12-29). "Salavantis and Toohil to be sworn in as Luzerne County judges Wednesday". The Sunday Dispatch. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "PA State Rep. Tarah Toohil". www.reptoohil.com. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
- ^ Couloumbis, Angela (March 31, 2013). "Videos attacking lawmaker stir probe". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ Bresswein, Kurt (March 9, 2018). "Pa. state rep gets protection order against another state rep, report says". lehighvalleylive.com. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ Bumsted, Brad; Knudsen, Paula; Couloumbis, Angela (March 1, 2018). "Pa. House leaders: Rep. Miccarelli should resign over misconduct claims". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
External links[]
- State Representative Tarah Toohil official caucus website
- Tarah Toohil (R) official PA House website
- Tarah Toohil for State Representative official campaign website
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Pages using Party stripe with other party
- Members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Pennsylvania Republicans
- Living people
- Women state legislators in Pennsylvania
- 1979 births
- 21st-century American politicians
- 21st-century American women politicians