Discipline - The Indiana Lawyer

3 judges face discipline in Indianapolis shooting

October 16, 2019 | Olivia Covington

Clark Circuit Judges Andrew Adams and Bradley Jacobs and Crawford Circuit Judge Sabrina Bell each have been charged with ethics violations for their roles in a now-infamous Indianapolis altercation that left Adams and Jacobs hospitalized with serious gunshot wounds. The charges detail a night of bar-hopping by the southern Indiana jurists during the evening of April 30 into the early morning of May 1 that ended in a confrontation that escalated to violence.

Justices lift three suspension orders for Fort Wayne attorney

October 14, 2019 | IL Staff

A Fort Wayne attorney with multiple suspensions has had three of them lifted after the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission found he had cooperated with those investigations against him. He remains suspended in other disciplinary cases, however.

Three judges involved in Indianapolis shooting now face discipline

October 11, 2019 | Olivia Covington

Three judges involved in a May shooting in downtown Indianapolis are all now facing judicial discipline charges. Clark Circuit Judges Andrew Adams and Bradley Jacobs and Crawford Circuit Magistrate Judge Sabrina Bell each were charged Friday by the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications in relation to the May 1 shooting at a downtown Indianapolis White Castle, and the events leading up to the shooting.

AG Hill’s top advisers must turn over communications in discipline case

October 7, 2019 | Olivia Covington

Efforts by top officials of the Indiana Office of the Attorney General to place under protective order communications between them and Attorney General Curtis Hill about the sexual misconduct allegations against Hill have been defeated with the denial of their motion to quash and motion for protective order.

Fort Wayne attorney again suspended for noncooperation

October 4, 2019 | IL Staff

A suspended Fort Wayne attorney with a history of formal disciplinary actions against him has again been suspended from the practice of law for noncooperation with the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission.

Indianapolis attorney suspended for noncooperation

October 4, 2019 | IL Staff

An Indianapolis attorney has been suspended from the practice of law per a Thursday order for her noncooperation with an investigation of grievance filed against her.

Federal judge tosses conviction in IU student’s murder for ineffective counsel

October 2, 2019 | Olivia Covington

The man convicted in the May 2000 murder of Indiana University student Jill Behrman has been ordered released from prison after a federal judge granted him habeas relief. In reaching that decision, the Southern Indiana District Court determined the Indiana Court of Appeals improperly evaluated the defendant’s allegations of prejudice.

Ethics case from Park Tudor sex scandal weighs duty to report vs. privilege

October 2, 2019 | Olivia Covington

The fallout from the revelation that the former Park Tudor boys basketball coach exchanged explicit messages with a 15-year-old student continued last week, when the school’s former attorney was subject to a disciplinary hearing over his conduct during the school’s investigation.

Muncie attorney reinstated after lengthy suspension

October 1, 2019 | IL Staff

A Muncie attorney who was suspended for at least three years without reinstatement for numerous professional misconduct violations has been granted his petition to practice law again, but with conditions.

Attorney who brought body cam, knife to court cleared of misconduct allegations

September 27, 2019 | Katie Stancombe

A Martinsville attorney who tried to intervene in a CHINS case and wore a body camera into the courtroom has been cleared of ethical wrongdoing after the Indiana Supreme Court concluded he did not engage in professional misconduct.

Blickman testifies in his discipline hearing linked to Park Tudor scandal

September 25, 2019 | Olivia Covington

The attorney disciplinary hearing against prominent employment lawyer Michael Blickman continued Wednesday, with the defense beginning its presentation with testimony from Blickman himself.

Suspended lawyer facing theft counts in 4 counties wanted again

September 24, 2019 | Dave Stafford

The suspended Greenwood lawyer accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from disabled and special-needs clients is again facing a warrant for his arrest, this time for failing to appear as ordered at a hearing in one of the multiple felony theft cases he faces.

Attorney discipline hearing stemming from Park Tudor scandal begins

September 23, 2019 | Olivia Covington

The disciplinary hearing against a prominent Ice Miller employment attorney who represented the Park Tudor School during a sex scandal involving the boys basketball coach began Monday, when the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission began the administrative prosecution.

JQC: Judge’s suspension should remain until end of disciplinary proceedings

September 20, 2019 | Olivia Covington

Public trust in the integrity of the judicial system would be compromised if Judge Andrew Adams were reinstated to the Clark County bench before the end of his disciplinary action, the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications argued in new court filings.

Suspended judge involved in shooting moves for reinstatement

September 18, 2019 | Dave Stafford

The suspended Clark Circuit Court judge who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery for his role in an Indianapolis shooting that also wounded a second southern Indiana jurist has asked to be reinstated to the bench because doing so “is in the best interest of the Clark County judicial system.”

Disciplinary Actions

September 18, 2019

Read which Indiana Lawyers have been subject to Indiana Supreme Court discipline orders in the most recent reporting period.

After judge’s plea, JQC investigating shooting

September 18, 2019 | Olivia Covington

Though he’s past the legal ramifications of an early-morning shooting in May, Clark Circuit Judge Andrew Adams must still face a judicial discipline action investigating the matter. His plea and the highly publicized nature of the shooting led the Indiana Judicial Qualifications Commission to take the rare step of publicly confirming its investigation of the incident.

Judicial commission investigating shooting involving judges

September 11, 2019 | Olivia Covington

The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications is investigating the May 1 shooting that left two Clark County judges wounded and one convicted of misdemeanor battery, the Indiana Supreme Court confirmed Wednesday.

Lawyer suspended for hiring killer in ‘woefully inadequate’ defense

September 10, 2019 | Olivia Covington

An Indianapolis attorney who hired a convicted killer to persuade a defendant accused of murder to ditch a public defender and retain him has been suspended for three years for incompetent client representation and lying to the disciplinary commission. A dissenting justice, however, would have disbarred the attorney.

Clark Circuit judge wounded in shooting enters guilty plea

September 9, 2019 | Olivia Covington

One of the two judges injured in a downtown Indianapolis shooting pleaded guilty Monday afternoon to misdemeanor battery stemming from the May 1 incident. He will serve no jail time.

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