Disciplinary Actions
Read which Indiana Lawyers have been subject to Indiana Supreme Court discipline orders in the most recent reporting period.
Discipline
Articles
After judge’s plea, JQC investigating shooting
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
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
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
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.
Attorney who exposed himself, allegedly stole client funds, resigns
An Indianapolis attorney who in the past three years was charged with indecency, public nudity and theft has resigned from the Indiana bar.
Anthem attorney gets JLAP probation after OWI crash
An attorney for Indianapolis-based Anthem Inc. received a stayed suspension from the Indiana Supreme Court and will undergo a year of substance abuse monitoring after a drunken-driving conviction arising from a property damage car crash nearly two years ago. Jonathan T. Tempel was suspended for 90 days with automatic reinstatement, stayed subject to completion of one year of monitoring by the Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program.
Anderson mayor’s son faces attorney discipline complaint
The son of Anderson’s mayor, who also previously served as an assistant city attorney, is facing an attorney discipline complaint stemming from his misdemeanor conviction after a drunken-driving property damage crash last year. The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission last week filed a formal complaint against Evan B. Broderick, son of Anderson Democratic Mayor Thomas Broderick Jr., who also is an attorney and former Madison County prosecutor.
Reversal: COA awards Muncie attorney fees for unpaid legal services
A Muncie attorney is set to receive payment owed him by a former municipal client after the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed and remanded a decision that denied his counterclaim for final payment and subjected him to attorney fees.
One of five suspensions lifted for Fort Wayne attorney
A Fort Wayne attorney’s suspension for noncooperation has been lifted, but Indiana Supreme Court justices say his remaining suspensions in several other cases will remain in effect.
AG Hill to get witness statements; Selby declines to recuse in discipline case
Witness statements collected during the criminal investigation into Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill must be turned over to the lawyers defending Hill against an attorney disciplinary action, the hearing officer has ruled. Former Justice Myra Selby also declined to recuse herself from Hill’s case over a potential conflict of interest.
Muncie attorney gets 180-day suspension
A Muncie attorney previously convicted of drunken driving charges has been suspended from the practice of law for 180 days without automatic reinstatement for his professional misconduct, including his failure to reimburse lienholders, obtain consent from clients with conflicts of interest and give notice of his felony conviction.
Supreme Court suspends Indianapolis attorney for noncooperation
A suspended Indianapolis attorney has been hit with another order suspending him from the practice of law effective immediately for his noncooperation with the disciplinary commission’s investigation against him.
Justices reprimand lawyer who failed to file appeal
A suspended Fort Wayne attorney who previously failed to timely file a client’s appeal with a federal agency, ultimately leading to the claim’s dismissal after another attorney unsuccessfully tried to remedy the timeliness issue, has been publicly reprimanded by the Indiana Supreme Court.
Lawyer who told disciplinary commission ‘I politely dare you’ faces complaint
An Indianapolis attorney who responded to a grievance against him with a message to the disciplinary commission saying “nobody can successfully attack my moral character, and I politely dare you to even try” has been hit with a formal disciplinary complaint.
Stafford: Attorney General Hill is right, just not quite right enough
Attorney General Curtis Hill has subpoenaed Inspector General Lori Torres for all records related to her office’s investigation of groping accusations against him. Torres should break precedent and comply — and she should make all the evidence public.
‘An amazing opportunity’: Rule change benefits nonlawyer assistants
A rule change is creating opportunities for freelance paralegals and other nonlawyer assistants, but some attorneys have concerns that the revisions could impose new gray areas for legal professionals who use such services.
Ex-prosecutor Cooper suspended after guilty pleas
Former Johnson County Prosecutor Bradley Cooper has been suspended from the practice of law in Indiana after being sentenced on three felony domestic battery charges last month.
FBI searches Vincennes’ police headquarters, chief on leave
A southwestern Indiana police chief has been placed on paid leave following an FBI search of the city’s police headquarters.
Ohio police officers face discipline in Stormy Daniels arrest
Police in Columbus, Ohio, say five officers from the department’s now-disbanded vice unit face discipline for a raid on a strip club last year that resulted in the arrest of Stormy Daniels.