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Friday, March 28, 2008

Ind. Courts - "Muncie judge calls it quits"

Rick Yencer and Nick Werner of the Muncie Star-Press report today:

Judge Wayne Lennington has resigned from the Delaware Circuit Court 5 bench, effective May 15, in the wake of a probe by a state commission that oversees judicial conduct, and a criminal investigation by local and state authorities.

Lennington submitted his letter of resignation to Gov. Mitch Daniels -- who will select his successor -- on Tuesday.

On Thursday, the 77-year-old judge said he was leaving the bench as a result of health problems.
"It should not be suggested that I resigned because of the investigation," said Lennington, a Democrat appointed to the bench in 1998 by then-Gov. Frank O'Bannon.

The Indiana Judicial Qualifications Commission has been investigating alleged conflicts between Lennington's business interests and judicial obligations, commission counsel Meg Babcock confirmed on Thursday.

"The commission and judge reached an agreement that a prompt resignation was in the best interest of the judiciary," said Babcock.

Whether Lennington committed any misconduct was never determined because the investigation was suspended once Lennington agreed to resign, Babcock said.

The commission was fully prepared to move through the investigation, and if warranted, to a long proceeding that could have resulted in the judge's removal from office, she added.

"Instead, he agreed to resign," Babcock said. "It's the perfect outcome for the Delaware County courts and its public."

After being informed that Lennington had said he was leaving the bench for health reasons, the commission provided The Star Press with a copy of its signed agreement with the judge.

"Judge Lennington will make no public statements misrepresenting the status of the commission's investigation, of the criminal investigation or of the terms of the commission's agreement," the agreement stated.

A list of earlier ILB entries about Judge Lennington may be found here.

A second story today reports on how a successor will be selected.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on March 28, 2008 08:02 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts