Latest news with #IndianaCommissiononJudicialQualifications
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Discipline charges filed against Indiana judge
The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications has filed disciplinary charges against Howard Superior Court I Judge Matthew J. Elkin. The commission alleges Judge Elkin demonstrated an inability to perform judicial and administrative duties competently, diligently, and promptly, and acted in a manner that did not promote public confidence in the judiciary. The commission announced the charges in a news release issued Wednesday. Elkin is permitted, but not required, to file an answer to the charges within 20 days. The charges are brought by the seven-member state commission, which investigates alleged ethical misconduct by judges. The panel's charges are public record and have been filed with the Appellate Clerk's Office. The case number is 25S-JD-69. The commission charges nine counts of misconduct. The commission alleges that Judge Elkin violated the Code of Judicial Conduct by acting in ways that did not promote public confidence in the judiciary and failed to avoid impropriety or the appearance of impropriety. The commission alleges that Judge Elkin did not treat all litigants fairly and with dignity, did not have order and decorum in proceedings before his court, and in one instance, failed to ensure that his court staff acted in a manner consistent with the judge's obligations under the Judicial Code. The commission charges that Elkin abused the prestige of his office to advance the personal interests of himself and others and allowed his personal and extrajudicial activities to take precedence over his duties. The Indiana Supreme Court will determine what, if any, misconduct occurred. The Court can dismiss the charges, accept or reject a disciplinary agreement, appoint a panel of judges to conduct a public hearing, impose a fine or impose sanctions ranging from a reprimand to a suspension to a permanent ban on judicial office in Indiana. Elkin is represented by attorney Jennifer Lukemeyer of Indianapolis. The Tribune-Star sent an email to Lukemeyer offering the opportunity to comment.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lake County Judge Calvin Hawkins gets 30-day suspension for sexually harassing court employees
The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications said Wednesday it will suspend a Lake County civil judge in East Chicago for 30 days for sexually harassing court employees. The vote was 3 to 2, with Chief Justice Loretta Rush and Justice Christopher Goff dissenting, saying Judge Calvin Hawkins, 79, of Gary, should be removed from the bench 'due to his repeated acts of sexual harassment.' The suspension is from March 31 to April 30. Hawkins will also have to complete sexual harassment training via the National Center for State Courts. 'The parties agree that an appropriate sanction is a thirty-day suspension without pay,' according to the decision. 'A judicial suspension is a very severe sanction, and it is fully warranted here.' Hawkins' lawyer James Voyles could not be immediately reached. At least three women accused him of inappropriate behavior, according to filings. Hawkins' staff had to move a civil trial to Lake Superior Court in Hammond on Oct. 19, 2023, after technical difficulties stopped them from recording it in his East Chicago courtroom. One female staffer in Hammond said Hawkins started to rub her shoulder when he introduced himself and stared at her chest. Later, a secretary was kneeling over to help fix recording equipment in the Hammond courtroom. Hawkins said she was 'on her hands and knees.' The woman interpreted it as a sexual reference due to how 'he was looking at her,' filings show. Another staffer in the room shared her conclusion. Investigators allege Hawkins hugged and kissed another woman on his staff last year. He testified he kissed her on the cheek or head. He said he was a hugger. 'It has a negative effect, but there's a certain aspect of it, one's humanity,' he said in his deposition. 'And I don't want to demean the fact that if that's not something you're sensitive to, you can go crazy with it. Okay? And you could become a…predator.' 'My characterization of when I got this, the only person that I felt could have had any kind of feeling would be the young lady (the initial Hammond staffer) that I had met for the very first time.' Gov. Mitch Daniels appointed Hawkins to the bench in 2007 to replace Judge Robert A. Pete, who died during his term. U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan briefly honored Hawkins on the House floor for Black History Month in Feb. 2023, citing his commitment to civil rights and his stay-in-school program. Hawkins previously told the Post-Tribune that he grew up in Washington, D.C., and attended the March on Washington in 1963 days before he moved to Indiana to go to Huntington College. mcolias@
Chicago Tribune
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Lake County Judge Calvin Hawkins gets 30-day suspension for sexually harassing court employees
The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications said Wednesday it will suspend a Lake County civil judge in East Chicago for 30 days for sexually harassing court employees. The vote was 3 to 2, with Chief Justice Loretta Rush and Justice Christopher Goff dissenting, saying Judge Calvin Hawkins, 79, of Gary, should be removed from the bench 'due to his repeated acts of sexual harassment.' The suspension is from March 31 to April 30. Hawkins will also have to complete sexual harassment training via the National Center for State Courts. 'The parties agree that an appropriate sanction is a thirty-day suspension without pay,' according to the decision. 'A judicial suspension is a very severe sanction, and it is fully warranted here.' Hawkins' lawyer James Voyles could not be immediately reached. At least three women accused him of inappropriate behavior, according to filings. Hawkins' staff had to move a civil trial to Lake Superior Court in Hammond on Oct. 19, 2023, after technical difficulties stopped them from recording it in his East Chicago courtroom. One female staffer in Hammond said Hawkins started to rub her shoulder when he introduced himself and stared at her chest. Later, a secretary was kneeling over to help fix recording equipment in the Hammond courtroom. Hawkins said she was 'on her hands and knees.' The woman interpreted it as a sexual reference due to how 'he was looking at her,' filings show. Another staffer in the room shared her conclusion. Investigators allege Hawkins hugged and kissed another woman on his staff last year. He testified he kissed her on the cheek or head. He said he was a hugger. 'It has a negative effect, but there's a certain aspect of it, one's humanity,' he said in his deposition. 'And I don't want to demean the fact that if that's not something you're sensitive to, you can go crazy with it. Okay? And you could become a…predator.' 'My characterization of when I got this, the only person that I felt could have had any kind of feeling would be the young lady (the initial Hammond staffer) that I had met for the very first time.' Gov. Mitch Daniels appointed Hawkins to the bench in 2007 to replace Judge Robert A. Pete, who died during his term. U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan briefly honored Hawkins on the House floor for Black History Month in Feb. 2023, citing his commitment to civil rights and his stay-in-school program. Hawkins previously told the Post-Tribune that he grew up in Washington, D.C., and attended the March on Washington in 1963 days before he moved to Indiana to go to Huntington College.
