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Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Ind. Courts - Still more on: Marion County Judge Hawkins, Master Commissioner Broyles charged by Disciplinary Commission

"Judge faces rare disciplinary hearing: Marion County judge and court commissioner accused of mishandling case of man cleared of rape" is the headline to an Indianapolis Star front-page story today by Jon Murray, updating this ILB entry from yesterday. Today's story begins:

A man sat in prison for nearly two years waiting to be cleared of rape while a Marion County court dragged its heels, mishandled an order that would lead to his freedom and even lost his file.

Even after a judge and his court commissioner realized the mistakes, Harold David Buntin sat behind bars for another six weeks. That was the last of several missteps that launched rare disciplinary proceedings before a panel of three judges from other counties this week.
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"Of the many regrets I have regarding this whole matter, that is one of my biggest ones," former Master Commissioner Nancy L. Broyles said Tuesday about the final delay. "I take full responsibility for that and regret it."

Broyles testified during a two-day hearing in the action against Judge Grant Hawkins, the elected judge overseeing the court where Broyles handled Buntin's post-conviction case.

She avoided a disciplinary hearing after reaching an undisclosed agreement with the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications. The Indiana Supreme Court is the final referee on sanctions, which could include a public reprimand, suspension without pay or removal from office.

The high court metes out sanctions against judges only once or twice a year for violations of the judicial code of conduct, either inside or outside court.

Even rarer is a hearing, like Hawkins', before a three-judge panel, which issues findings and recommends sanctions to the Supreme Court. In Hawkins' action, the panel plans to release its report by Nov. 14.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on October 8, 2008 08:26 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts