The Munster Times this morning has three noteworthy stories:
Judge Kouros. A more complete report of the recommendation of the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications is published in this story this morning. Some quotes:
Judge Joan Kouros held court Thursday despite the latest volley fired in the battle to oust her. The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications filed a recommendation late Wednesday that Kouros be permanently removed from the Lake County Criminal Court bench.Attorney Resigns. " This story reports:Until the state Supreme Court makes that decision, the commission asked the state's highest jurists to follow their own rule and suspend Kouros with pay. As of 5 p.m. Thursday, the court had not ordered Kouros suspended. * * *
During the April hearing before the three-judge panel, the Judicial Qualifications Commission showed Kouros had upwards of 137 files checked out on select dates and it took weeks for some orders to be implemented.
"Unfortunately, this case is about far more than the administrative failures," the judicial commission states in the seven-page memorandum supporting the 41-page removal recommendation. "It is about Judge Kouros' lack of trustworthiness. ... In light of the Masters' conclusions that Judge Kouros not only continually neglected her duties but defied a Supreme Court Order and was dishonest with the Court, removal is necessary to protect the integrity of the judiciary."
Former Indiana Democratic Chairman Peter J. Manous surrendered his law license Thursday as he prepares to enter prison later this year for defrauding a union pension fund. Manous, one of the most influential attorneys in Northwest Indiana, will be unable to practice law for at least five years.Federal Indictments Expected. This story reports:He avoided the risk of permanent disbarment and disgrace in the legal community because the Indiana Supreme Court dismissed disciplinary proceedings against him at the same time they accepted his resignation. "If faced with a probability of disbarment, it is not an irrational thing to do to resign," said Donald Lundberg, executive director for the Indiana Disciplinary Commission.
HAMMOND -- It will be another freaky Friday for area politicians as they hold their breath until the latest indictment is announced today. U.S. Attorney Joseph Van Bokkelen will host a press conference this afternoon at the federal courthouse to discuss what he described as "an indictment of public interest."[Update 7/17/04] Today's Times reports: "Feds indict East Chicago police chief." Posted by Marcia Oddi at July 16, 2004 07:48 AMRumors of who will be targeted next by Operation Restore Integrity, a state and federal investigation into public corruption, ran the gamut Thursday of a Who's Who of local officials. However, those within Operation Restore Integrity were careful to lower expectations. "There are no mayors involved," one source said.