Disciplinary Actions – 12/28/16
Read who’s recently been suspended or resigned from the bar.
Discipline
Articles
Higgins: New rules reflect renewed focus on attorney trust accounts
For Indiana attorneys, the new year marks the effective date of the new Admission and Discipline Rule 23. The importance of Rule 23 is generally limited only to those unlucky few who find themselves being investigated or prosecuted by the Disciplinary Commission. However, Rule 23 also contains substantive provisions on how each lawyer must manage his or her trust account.
Attorney resigns amid misconduct allegations
A Greenwood attorney has resigned from the Indiana bar after facing an investigation by the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission.
Disciplinary Actions – 12/14/16
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Indiana attorney illegally practicing in Florida suspended for 18 months
An Indiana attorney who was illegally practicing law in Florida has been suspended in Indiana for 18 months without automatic reinstatement.
Indiana Supreme Court revises attorney’s suspension
The Indiana Supreme Court has revisited a disciplinary order indefinitely suspending a Texas-based attorney and has instead imposed a revised suspension.
Indiana lawyers now must report misdemeanor convictions
Indiana attorneys now are explicitly required to report to the Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission any misdemeanor or felony conviction under sweeping changes to Admission and Discipline Rule 23.
Indiana attorney with failed Florida firm calls ethics complaint against her a ‘witch hunt’
By outward appearances, Divina K. Westerfield is an attorney practicing in Indianapolis. But looks can be deceiving.
Disciplinary Actions – 11/02/16
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Seymour attorney with Alzheimer’s suspended for disability
A Seymour attorney who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and who is facing a felony fraud charge has been suspended from the practice of law in Indiana because of his mental disability.
Justices dismiss misconduct charge against White County deputy prosecutor
The Indiana Supreme Court has entered judgment in favor of a White County attorney after finding that the state Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission failed to prove that the attorney had violated a rule of professional conduct, resulting in a man’s erroneous convictions of child molestation.
Disciplinary Actions – 10/19/16
Read who the Indiana Supreme Court has recently suspended and who has resigned from the bar.
Bench, bar rally behind prosecutor facing discipline
The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission brought a formal complaint against Johnson County Prosecutor Bradley Cooper for press comments attributed to him in reaction to a judge’s grant of post-conviction relief for convicted murderer Michael Overstreet. A parade of character witnesses traveled to a distant hearing to rally behind Cooper.
Supreme Court prohibits legal practice for 4 attorneys
Four Indiana attorneys can no longer practice law in the state after the Indiana Supreme Court decided on four disciplinary cases late last week.
Bench, bar, victim’s mother rally behind prosecutor facing discipline for speech
Johnson County judges, lawyers and the mother of a murdered teen traveled to a distant court Wednesday to come to the defense of their elected prosecutor.
Jay County judges ordered to handle Dunkirk City Court matters
Following the suspension with pay of the Dunkirk City Court judge for allegedly battering the city’s police chief, the Indiana Supreme Court has temporarily transferred two Jay County judges to the court to handle matters.
Justices suspend City Court judge accused of battering police chief
Dunkirk City Court Judge Tommy Dale “Chip” Phillips II has been suspended with pay after he was charged with assaulting the city’s police chief, who is also Phillips’ nephew.
Prosecutor faces discipline for press comments over ruling for killer
Johnson County Prosecutor Bradley Cooper faces possible professional sanctions for comments he made to the Indianapolis Star and the Associated Press after a judge ruled a man facing the death penalty wasn’t competent to be executed.