The Indiana Supreme Court has suspended Knox County Bicknell City Court Judge David Andrew Moreland, effective immediately.  The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications filed a “Notice of Criminal Charges and Request for Suspension” with the Indiana Supreme Court on October 13, 2009.  After reviewing the request, the Indiana Supreme Court immediately ordered Judge Moreland suspended.

The “Notice of Criminal Charges and Request for Suspension,” cause number 42S00-0910-JD-441 was filed by the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications when the Commission learned the Knox County Prosecutor had filed five Class D Felony charges for Theft against Judge Moreland.  Commission attorney, Adrienne L. Meiring, notified the Indiana Supreme Court that the felony charges had been filed and asked the Court to suspend Judge Moreland.  In the notice, Attorney Meiring pointed to Admission and Discipline Rule 25 V, subsection A of the Indiana Rules of Court.  According to the rule:

A judicial officer shall be suspended with pay by the Supreme Court...upon the filing of an indictment or information charging the judicial officer in any court in the United States with a crime punishable as a felony under the laws of Indiana or the United States.

After reviewing the Commission’s request, the Indiana Supreme Court ordered Judge Moreland suspended until further order of the Court.  The Indiana Supreme Court will appoint a judge pro tem to fill the vacancy left in Bicknell City Court.        

David Andrew Moreland, who is not an attorney according to the Commission request, was elected to the bench and began his term January 1, 2008.  Any questions related to the criminal charges filed in Knox County should be directed to Mr. Moreland, Knox County Police or Knox County Prosecutors.

The Commission on Judicial Qualifications is the 7 member group that investigates alleged ethical misconduct by judges.  Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard Chairs the Commission.  Any investigation into alleged judicial misconduct by the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications is confidential according to Supreme Court rules.  After conducting an investigation, if the Commission finds probable cause that ethical misconduct has occurred and deems the matter sufficiently serious, the Commission may elect to file a formal complaint charging the judge with ethical misconduct.  At that point, the complaint and all filings and proceedings thereafter are matters of public record.  The Indiana Supreme Court has final authority over judicial discipline.

View the Notice of Criminal Charges and Request for Suspension

View the Supreme Court Order Suspending Judge Moreland