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Sunday, September 06, 2009
Ind. Courts - LaPorte County judge threatens attorney with jail
Alicia Ebaugh reported Sept. 4th in the Michigan City News-Dispatch:
La Porte Superior Court 1 Judge Kathleen Lang threatened Thursday to have a murder suspect's attorney arrested if she fails to come to court one more time.For the second week in a row, Shawn D. Kelley's defense attorney, Logan-Tinae Thomas, did not show up for Kelley's status hearing.
"Where is Ms. Thomas?" Lang sternly asked.
"I spoke with my parents, and they said they talked to her about last week. She told them she didn't know she was supposed to be here," Kelley replied. "I don't know where she is today." * * *
Kelley switched attorneys at the end of January because, he told the court, James O. Cupp, his original attorney, had not been returning his phone calls and e-mails as quickly as he would like. That switch has caused enough delays in the case, Lang said - she doesn't want any more of them.
"If she doesn't appear next week, a bench warrant will be issued for her arrest," Lang said. "You are charged with murder, Mr. Kelley, you need to have a jury trial, and we've got to get this going."
Deputy Prosecutor Michael Bergerson said Thomas has not contacted him about Kelley's case since she entered her initial notice of appearance in February. Kelley's trial was set for Nov. 2 but will likely be delayed until late December, Lang said.
Thomas was formerly a deputy prosecuting attorney in Lake County. She opened her own firm, Thomas Law Office, in Michigan City in July 2006, according to her Web site. Thomas did not return phone calls to her office Thursday.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on September 6, 2009 10:11 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts