« Courts - "Ky. court fees spike sharply under new deal" | Main | Ind. Courts - More re: U.S. District Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen first jury trial [Updated] »

Sunday, August 03, 2008

Ind. Courts - Distribution of cases when two judges facing charges

Rebecca S. Green of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette has a lengthy story today about the distribution of cases in Allen County courts, where two judges are facing charges. Some quotes:

Can a judge who has a pending drunken-driving case preside over other cases involving alcohol-related offenses? Should a judge accused of speaking derogatorily about a man he believed sold his late son drugs continue to handle cases involving accused drug dealers?

With two local judges making news in recent weeks, facing those exact allegations, some in the community might be asking those exact questions.

While other professions might have ethical questions or potential conflicts of interest handled by specific boards or commissions, when it is a judge, the decision about what is a conflict of interest rests solely with the individual judge.

In the past month, Allen Superior Court Judge Kenneth R. Scheibenberger and Allen Circuit Court Judge Thomas J. Felts made headlines for allegations of professional misconduct and drunken driving, respectively.

The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications filed formal charges with the Indiana Supreme Court on July 15 against Scheibenberger, accusing him of violating the rules of judicial conduct when he got into a verbal altercation with the family of a criminal defendant in another courtroom last November. * * *

Scheibenberger handles many of Allen County’s low-level felony cases, many of which involve illegal drugs.

Days after Scheibenberger was charged, Felts, 53, was arrested in the early-morning hours of July 18 in downtown Indianapolis after being pulled over by Capitol Police for failing to use his turn signal. According to court documents, Felts’ eyes were glassy, his speech was slurred, and he admitted to drinking. He was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and public intoxication.

Felts, the sole Circuit Court judge, handles both civil and criminal cases. The majority of the criminal cases he handles involve alcohol.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on August 3, 2008 09:13 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts