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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Ind. Courts - Public Admonition against Delaware County Circuit Court Juvenile Commissioner Brian M. Pierce

Here is the Court's press release. Some quotes:

Commissioner Pierce admits to violating Rule 1.2 and Rule 1.3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct. The violations stem from a February 2009 incident when he received a parking ticket from the City of Muncie. The code enforcement officer ticketed Commissioner Pierce’s personal vehicle for parking in the wrong direction. Commissioner Pierce confronted the officer, announced he worked as a court commissioner/juvenile court judge, and suggested he would call the sheriff’s department to intervene.

Commissioner Pierce later telephoned the City of Muncie’s Board of Public Works and Safety to complain about the parking ticket. He spoke to the Board’s secretary and identified himself as a judicial officer from juvenile court and demanded to know why city officials were ticketing vehicles after a snowstorm. He suggested he would subpoena the secretary and code enforcement officer into his courtroom to explain the situation.

Commissioner Pierce also spoke to the Deputy Mayor and Mayor and vigorously protested the City’s parking enforcement practices and used profanity on several occasions during the conversations. Commissioner Pierce paid the parking ticket in February 2009.

Commissioner Pierce acknowledges that his behavior violated Rule 1.2 and Rule 1.3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct. Rule 1.2 requires judges to act in a manner that promotes the public’s confidence in the judiciary and to avoid the appearance of impropriety. Rule 1.3 prohibits judges from abusing the prestige of judicial office in an attempt to advance personal interests.

Here is the Public Admonition.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on January 26, 2010 10:20 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts