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Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Ind. Courts - "LaPorte County judge will remain suspended" [Updated]

So reports WSBT-TV South Bend this evening:

Prosecutors had claimed [Jennifer Evans Koethe] asked a police officer to get rid of evidence after she accidentally shot herself at her home in December of 2008.

When those allegations surfaced, the state suspended Koethe from serving as a judge for alleged judicial misconduct. She will appeal that before the Indiana Judicial Qualification Commission next Monday.

The Indiana Supreme Court will review her case and decide on any disciplinary action. There is no timetable for that decision to happen, but she will remain suspended with pay.

[Updated 1/7/10] Craig Davison has a story in the LaPorte Argus-Herald that concludes:
The Commission charges Evans-Koethe with one count of misconduct centers on her “conduct in deliberately withholding or misrepresenting pertinent information.” The other two counts relate to her request to a police officer that he destroy a note that was potential evidence.

Evans-Koethe’s answer to the commission’s charges is due to the Supreme Court on Monday. Within 30 days after the answer is submitted, the Court will appoint three masters (judges) to hear the case. Those masters will hear the evidence and submit a fact finding to the Supreme Court.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on January 6, 2010 05:55 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts