Judge Banned From Bench

The Indiana Supreme Court has permanently removed a Muncie judge from office.

While most of the misconduct involved abusing the rights of litigants, there was this issue with the biological father of the judge’s twins

On August 2, 2013, Respondent visited J.W.’s Facebook page and saw a picture of J.W. with his girlfriend, A.S., from a trip in April 2013.

On August 2, 2013, Respondent posted the following comment to the picture displayed on J.W.’s Facebook page: “Must be nice to be able to take such an expensive trip but not pay your bills. Just sayin’ .”

Respondent’s comment was visible to and seen by other Facebook users who had access to J.W.’s page. Several other Facebook users posted comments in reaction to Respondent’s statements.

Respondent’s posted remarks were visible for at least an hour before the comments were deleted by Respondent.

Respondent acknowledges that by making an injudicious comment on the Facebook page of J.W. on August 2, 2013, she violated Rule 1.2 of the Code of Judicial Conduct.

And this incident when J.W. came to pick up the twins from day care

 Respondent arrived at the daycare shortly after J.W. and the other sheriffs deputy arrived.

For approximately fifteen (15) to twenty (20) minutes, Respondent yelled at J.W. in the daycare and in the daycare parking lot, making various derogatory comments about J.W. At that time, Respondent believed, per her understanding of the paternity order, J.W. should have picked the children up at her house rather than the daycare.

Respondent’s conduct was disruptive and was observed by daycare employees and other parents who had come to pick up their children from the daycare.

The judge also used a racial slur in an interaction with J.W.’s girlfriend.

Details here from WISHTV.com. (Mike Frisch)