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Thursday, January 14, 2010
Ind. Courts - Evans-Koethe: "No recollection of details from shooting"
Updating this ILB entry from Jan. 6th, Alicia Ebaugh reports today in the LaPorte Herald-Argus:
LA PORTE — Jennifer Evans-Koethe, the suspended La Porte Superior Court 3 Judge, claims to have “no recollection” of many events cited in three judicial misconduct charges against her, asking in her response to have the charges dismissed.Her response to the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications’ charges was due Jan. 11, days after a Lake County jury found her not guilty of attempted obstruction of justice, a Class D felony.
The commission filed its judicial misconduct charges against Evans-Koethe last month, accusing her of deliberately withholding or misrepresenting pertinent information during taped statements and asking a police officer to destroy a handwritten note, which was potential evidence.
In doing so, Evans-Koethe violated rules of conduct for judges and attorneys that require them to “avoid impropriety and to act at all times in a manner promoting the public’s confidence in the integrity of the judiciary,” and “to not engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation,” the commission wrote.
In her response, Evans-Koethe denies being asked about the whereabouts of her Glock 9mm handgun when police came to her home in response to a shooting Dec. 22, 2008, saying she had no recollection of being questioned there. Evans-Koethe told officers she accidentally shot herself after an argument with her husband, Stephan Koethe. * * *
She also denies deliberately omitting disclosure of the note in a recorded statement.
Evans-Koethe was suspended as La Porte Superior Court 3 judge by the Supreme Court effective May 11, with pay, which is about $120,000 a year.
Within 30 days, the Indiana Supreme Court will appoint three masters (judges) to hear the case. Those masters will hear the evidence and submit a fact finding to the court.
“Ultimately, it is the Supreme Court that will determine what, if any, discipline is appropriate for Judge Koethe,” said Kathryn Dolan, Indiana Supreme Court public-information officer.
If charges in the three counts of judicial misconduct are affirmed, that could lead to her removal from the bench by the Indiana Supreme Court, the loss of her attorney’s license or both.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on January 14, 2010 07:53 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts