Frank Eagen, former Lackawanna County judge facing perjury and obstruction of justices charges, knows this as well as anyone.

Yet in recent months he has talked openly with anyone who will listen to him, written letters to the editors of newspapers and placed paid advertisements in the media.

The focus of his attention is Lackawanna County District Attorney Michael Barrasse, who is destined to take his former seat on the bench.

Mr. Eagen has said the district attorney lied when he denied telling the former judge he would drop his grand jury investigation if Mr. Eagen would step down from the bench at Mr. Eagen's preliminary hearing on Dec. 18, 1998.

"I am today publicly challenging you to answer my allegations with a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer," Mr. Eagen says in an "open letter" to Mr. Barrasse that has been widely circulated in the county.

"I am not asking you to split the atom; I'm not asking you to explain the Trinity; nor am I asking you to name the Unknown Soldier," the letter continues. "I am simply asking you to tell the residents of Northeastern Pennsylvania whether you perjured yourself at a preliminary hearing on Dec. 18, 1998."

Mr. Barrasse has not answered.

In a telephone conversation with The Sunday Times, he refused to address Mr. Eagen's challenge until the latter accepts responsibility for his alleged illegal actions.

"The allegations Frank Eagen is making," Mr. Barrasse said, "are in no way connected with what he is charged with. The allegations are of what was said and done during the investigation of his actions.

"When Frank Eagen is ready to step up and accept responsibility for what he did," he added, "we will respond to his baseless allegations."

He went on to maintain that Mr. Eagen's challenge is a diversion, "not uncommon with criminal defendants. He keeps trying to put the blame on everyone else."

Mr. Eagen insists his challenge to Mr. Barrasse is not part of any strategy for his trial, which begins Oct. 12 in Dauphin County.

"I have nothing to fear at all," he says, proclaiming his innocence. "I never took money from Philip Bosha."

The state Attorney General's Office, which is prosecuting the charges, maintains he received $1,800 from Mr. Bosha, a former Scranton insurance executive, who was convicted of stealing from estates of the elderly. He was appointed on numerous occasions by the former judge to administer the estates of people incapable of caring for their financial affairs.

Mr. Eagen also is charged with attempting to obstruct an investigative grand jury headed by Mr. Barrasse's office while it was looking into possible wrongdoing by the former judge.

Mr. Eagen insists he is challenging the district attorney because he does not believe he should be a judge.

"This guy is a candidate for judge," Mr. Eagen says of Mr. Barrasse. "We don't need a perjurer for judge."

Mr. Barrasse is facing a state Supreme Court deadline of Monday at 5 p.m. to assume or forfeit the seat on the bench to which he was appointed last spring.

He also is virtually assured of winning election in November's general elections because his name appears on both party's ballots.

Mr. Eagen, who is represented by attorney William Costopoulos of Harrisburg, said he is aware of, but not responsible for, flyers being distributed in Scranton the last few weeks.

The flyers contain copies of Mr. Eagen's challenge as well as Mr. Barrasse's alleged perjured testimony.

Mr. Eagen said he has notified the Disciplinary Board of the state Supreme Court charged with overseeing the actions of attorneys about Mr. Barrasse's alleged perjured testimony.

Earlier, the judge said, the board sent him a letter asking for details of his allegations.