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The Indiana Supreme Court suspended a Lawrence County judge for two months after it found he illegally used marijuana.
The court’s decision comes after the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualification’s nearly yearlong investigation into Lawrence Superior Court I Judge John Plummer III. The commission accused Plummer of using marijuana and failing to give consistent information about his drug use.
As of Thursday, Plummer is suspended from the bench for 60 days, unpaid.
Plummer’s attorney, Glen Koch II of Boren Oliver & Coffey LLP, told The Indiana Lawyer he has no comment on the court’s decision.
According to the court’s opinion issued Wednesday, Plummer donned the black robes in 2018, presiding over a general-jurisdiction docket that included criminal and civil cases.
From February to May 2025, Plummer used cannabis-infused gummies and vaped marijuana, which he acquired from a family member who would buy the products in Michigan and bring them to his home in Indiana.
The substance use came to a head on April 30, 2025, when Plummer appeared “impaired” and “erratic” at a county council meeting. According to the court documents, Plummer spoke at length, exhibited pressured speech, and made comments unrelated to the court-related budget matters under consideration.
Allegations of Plummer’s behavior started to increase.
And on May 14, 2025, Plummer told another judicial officer about his marijuana consumption. The commission opened its investigation the next month.
While testifying before the commission, Plummer provided contradictory statements regarding his substance use.
According to the opinion, Plummer now agrees that his deposition testimony “reflected a materially inconsistent and incomplete account of his marijuana use during the relevant period.”
Plummer agreed that his conduct violated Indiana’s Code of Judicial Conduct, according to the opinion.
Although the court emphasized that criminal actions are much more serious when a judge is the abuser, it is permitting Plummer to return to the bench for several reasons, including that he had not faced attorney or judicial discipline before and because the substance use occurred during a time of “personal stress and instability.”
The court also emphasized that Plummer accepted responsibility for his conduct – albeit belatedly.
“We believe these factors point to [Plummer’s] ability to regain the public’s confidence,” the court stated.
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