Tarah Toohil
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. 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.

In 2012, legislation sponsored by Toohil was enacted that amended the powers and duties of Pennsylvania's Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission. 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. Another bill Toohil sponsored was enacted that removed the Pennsylvania licensing requirement for fitters of diabetic shoes.

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.

Toohil sponsored a measure enacted in 2018 that banned the sale of over-the-counter cough medicines containing dextromethorphan to minors in Pennsylvania.

In 2019, legislation she sponsored was enacted specifying that civil confidentiality agreements do not cover communications with law enforcement. 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. Toohil also sponsored an adoption reform law regarding the witnessing of an adoption consent agreement for an incarcerated parent in Pennsylvania.

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.

Toohil is a co-founder of "Brandon's Forever Home," a Pennsylvania charity that assists foster children.

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.

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.  She was sworn in as a judge on January 3, 2022.

Personal life 
Toohil resides in Drums, Luzerne County, with her husband Scot Burkhardt and their children.

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.

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. 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.

References

External links
State Representative Tarah Toohil official caucus website
Tarah Toohil (R) official PA House website
Tarah Toohil for State Representative official campaign website

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