Judge suspended for 1 week in disciplinary case

By The Princeton Clarion 

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Supreme Court ordered a seven-day unpaid suspension from office from Jan. 30 to Feb. 6 for Gibson Circuit Judge Jeffrey Meade, after finding that he engaged in judicial misconduct.

The Indiana Supreme Court’s judicial discipline action published Thursday says Meade engaged in judicial misconduct by making intemperate comments from the bench; by conducting an off-the-record and unrecorded Child in Need of Services hearing where he ruled on substantive motions; and by failing to provide all parties in the CHINS case with sufficient notice in order to fairly participate in the hearing.

The finding stems from charges filed in December by the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications, alleging misconduct related to the handling of specific paternity and Child in Need of Services cases from 2015 to February 2022.

According to the court, Judge Meade agreed that his conduct was prejudicial to the administration of justice, and in a conditional agreement, he accepted responsibility for conduct, expressed remorse, cooperated with the commission, completed an eight-session coaching intensive for judicial officers, and is engaged in counseling services.

Other mitigating factors, according to the finding, included the appointment of a new magistrate to serve Gibson County’s Circuit and Superior courts and to handle many family law matters. The local circuit court also has updated technology to better accommodate remote hearings on the record.

No aggravating factors were cited beyond previous caution letters in 2008 and 2019 and a deferred resolution in 2017 for “demeanor issues” and “non-judicious behavior,” according to the finding.

The full finding is published at https://public.courts.in.gov/Decisions

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Judge suspended for 1 week in disciplinary case