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A Lawrence County judge has been accused of misconduct for allegedly using marijuana and failing to provide candid information about the illegal drug use to the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications, the commission stated in a press release Friday morning.
The commission charged Lawrence County Superior Court I Judge John M. Plummer III with two counts of misconduct, one for illegally using marijuana while serving as a judicial officer and one for failing to provide complete information on his drug use.
Plummer is represented by Glen E. Koch II of Boren, Oliver & Coffey LLP. Koch told The Indiana Lawyer he has no comment on the charges.
Between February and May 2025, Judge Plummer experienced a personal crisis and its effects spilled into the Lawrence County courts and the broader community, according to the commission.
At the time, court staff, attorneys and other judges noticed significant changes in Plummer’s demeanor and emotional stability. In one instance, Plummer appeared before the Lawrence County Council to address court budget matters and appeared erratic and potentially impaired, according to witnesses.
In May 2025, Plummer allegedly revealed to another judge that he had been consuming marijuana he had gotten from the state of Michigan. The next month, the commission launched an investigation into Plummer’s substance use and requested a written response from him to address the concerns.
In the written response, Plummer admitted to consuming illicit drugs while serving as judge, adding that he told a judge that he used a small amount of THC to help him sleep.
Through the investigation, however, the commission found that Plummer’s marijuana use was more extensive than what he had revealed. Plummer’s sworn testimony also contradicted itself.
Plummer has been on a paid, voluntary leave of absence from the bench since September 2025. He is currently not taking on new cases.
The Indiana Supreme Court has final authority to determine whether judicial misconduct occurred. The court can choose to pursue one of the following routes in the case:
- Dismiss the charges
- Accept or reject a disciplinary agreement between Plummer and the commission
- Appoint a panel of judges to hold a public hearing
- Impose a fine
- Impose sanctions, which could mean a reprimand, a suspension or a permanent ban on holding judicial office.
The case is In the Matter of the Honorable John M. Plummer III Judge of Lawrence Superior Court I, 26S-JD-115.
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