§ 33-33-71-46 — Recommendation for suspension or removal of judge

(a) On recommendation of the commission
on judicial qualifications, the supreme court may suspend a judge of
the St. Joseph superior court from office without salary when in any
court in the United States the judge enters a plea of guilty or nolo
contendere to, or is found guilty of, any crime punishable as a felony
under the laws of Indiana or of the United States, or of any other crime
that involves moral turpitude under that law. If the judge's conviction
is reversed, suspension terminates, and the judge shall be paid the
judge's salary for the period of suspension. If the judge is suspended
and the judge's conviction is affirmed or otherwise becomes final, the
supreme court shall remove the judge from office.
(b) On recommendation of the commission on judicial
qualifications, the supreme court may:
(1) retire a judge of the St. Joseph superior court for disability that
seriously interferes with the performance of the judge's duties and
is likely to become permanent; and
(2) censure or remove a judge of the St. Joseph superior court for
conduct occurring not more than six (6) years before the
commencement of the judge's current term, when the conduct
constitutes willful misconduct in office, willful and persistent
failure to perform the judge's duties, habitual intemperance, or
conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice or that brings
or tends to bring judicial office into disrepute.
(c) When the supreme court receives any recommendation from the
commission on judicial qualifications, it shall hold a hearing, at which
the affected judge is entitled to attend, and shall make a determination
as is required. The supreme court shall make rules regarding the
convening and conduct of hearings, which shall, upon request of the
judge whom it concerns, be public.
[Pre-2004 Recodification Citation: 33-5-40-50.]

Legislative History

As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.12.