INDIANAPOLIS (April 13, 2005) – A woman who served 18 years as a Hendricks Superior Court judge and four years as a State of Indiana senior judge will now be enforcing the state’s new ethics rules. Governor Mitch Daniels has named Mary Lee Comer as the executive director of the Indiana State Ethics Commission.

 

The commission oversees training, advising and enforcing ethics laws for state employees. Governor Daniels established a new set of ethics rules in January when he signed Executive Order 05-12, and other ethics provisions are outlined in SB 18, which passed unanimously in the House and is awaiting conference committee action.

 

Comer will report to the state’s new Inspector General, who is responsible for pursuing fraud, waste and abuse in state government. The Inspector General may file complaints with the commission and represent the state in any ethics proceeding; the ethics commission may also refer criminal cases to the inspector general.

 

According to the Better Government Association Integrity Index, in 2004 Indiana was ranked as one of the weakest states for governmental ethics.

 

“Through upgraded leadership from Judge Comer, and a watchdog with teeth in the Inspector General, we are creating a culture that encourages state employees to seek advice and report wrongdoing, as well as an understanding that rules will be enforced and unethical behavior is unacceptable,” said Daniels. “Judge Comer is another outstanding Hoosier who is willing to sacrifice to join our new crew and its program of reform.”

 

Since 2001, Comer has been a senior judge for the state assigned to eight courts in central Indiana. She also has taught ethics courses to members of the judiciary in Indiana and Tennessee.

 

“The governor has made it clear with the new ethics rules that these matters are being taken seriously,” said Comer. “Our goal is to make information available to state employees so they can make informed decisions. We’ll help apply rules to factual situations, which is really an extension of my job as a judge.”

 

Comer is past president of the Indiana Judges Association, is a former member of the Danville Community School Foundation and a former high school English teacher.

 

She earned her bachelor of science degree in education from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and her law degree from the Indiana University School of Law at Indianapolis. She is also a graduate of the Indiana Judicial College.

 

Comer started her position on April 11.

 

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Media contact:  Jane Jankowski, Office of the Governor, 317/232-1622, jjankowski@gov.in.gov