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Sunday, September 20, 2009

Ind. Courts - Still more on: "Time might not be on Delaware County Prosecutor Mark McKinney's side"

On Sept. 14th the ILB posted this entry, including a copy of document issued by the Supreme Court and dated June 18th.

On Sept. 17th the Muncie Star-Press published a story by Rick Yencer headed "Supreme Court rejects 90-day suspension for McKinney." The story begins:

A majority of the Indiana Supreme Court has rejected a proposed resolution of a misconduct complaint against Delaware County Prosecutor Mark McKinney that called for him to be suspended from the practice of law for 90 days.

"Specifically, a majority of the court concluded that the agreed discipline, that being suspended from the practice of law for 90 days with automatic reinstatement, is insufficient in light of the misconduct agreed to by the parties," Kevin Smith, Supreme Court administrator, wrote in a June 18 letter to McKinney's attorney, Kevin McGoff, and Donald Lundberg, executive secretary of the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission.

The court's position leaves McKinney, expected to seek re-election next year, still searching for a resolution of a complaint verified by the court's disciplinary commission in May, accusing him of conflict of interest and conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.

The complaint had been filed by Mayor Sharon McShurley in 2008, accusing McKinney of misleading local courts by using confidential settlements to handle drug forfeiture cases, acting as civil attorney for the Muncie-Delaware County Drug Task Force and as deputy and later full-time prosecutor.

Also on Sept. 17th, the Star-Press had this:
Four-term former Delaware County Prosecutor Richard Reed -- the man who hand-picked Mark McKinney to follow in his footsteps -- has some advice for his embattled successor: Resign.

Reed, the longest-serving local prosecutor and one who attracted his fair share of controversy by taking on local government corruption -- often targeting fellow Democrats -- said this week he regrets backing McKinney in the 2006 election and is disappointed by the legal morass into which McKinney has descended. * * *

"I think he should (resign) to save this community from one more black eye," Reed said. "Not just from the prosecutor's office, but from the practice of law."

Also on Sept. 17th, the Star-Press had this editorial headed "Mark McKinney should step down as prosecutor to best serve Delaware County."

Posted by Marcia Oddi on September 20, 2009 07:37 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts