Home

Join

Main Menu



blog advertising is good for you
Powered by Disqus

Links

Like IB

«
»

Marion County Superior Court Judge Admonished by Judicial Qualifications Commission

The following is reprinted from a news release from the Indiana Supreme Court.

The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications has issued a Public Admonition to Marion Superior Court Judge Rebekah F. Pierson-Treacy.  The admonition is the result of language in an August 2011 invitation to an election fundraiser that gave the appearance that monetary campaign contributions would result in favorable court rulings.

Judge Pierson-Treacy admits the invitation included inappropriate statements and accepts the Public Admonition.  She admits to violating Rule 1.2 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which requires judges to act in a manner that promotes public confidence in the judiciary.

More than six-hundred invitations to a fundraiser for Judge Pierson-Treacy’s re-election campaign were mailed to Indianapolis area residents.  The invitations included “Suggested Contributions,” with the following recommended monetary amounts and legal monikers:

$150 “Sustained”
$250 “Affirmed”
$500 “So Ordered”
$1000 “Favorable Ruling”

Recipients of the invitations were directed to make checks payable to the “Re-Elect Judge Becky Committee.”  Judge Pierson-Treacy stated the intention was to list the donation levels in an entertaining fashion.

Media reports related to the fundraiser suggested the invitation gave the appearance that “justice was for sale” in the judge’s courtroom.  While there is no evidence the judge intended to barter rulings for contributions, the invitation presented a negative view of the judiciary.

The Commission determined the invitation likely gave the impression to the public that the judge’s rulings could be influenced by campaign contributions.  As a result of the behavior, the Commission has issued a Public Admonition of Judge Pierson-Treacy and concluded its investigation into her conduct.

The 7-member Commission on Judicial Qualifications investigates alleged ethical misconduct by judges.  Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard chairs the Commission.  The Indiana Supreme Court has final authority over judicial discipline.  The Court gives the Commission discretion to issue a Public Admonition instead of filing formal charges against a judge when it determines a Public Admonition sufficiently addresses the misconduct and the judge consents to that resolution.  The official censure from the Commission, the Public Admonition, is kept on file with the Commission and is posted online.

*******

Pierson-Treacy is the wife of Marion County Democratic Chairman Ed Treacy.

Posted: 11|29|11 at 11:34 am by Abdul Hakim-Shabazz
Follow this entry via RSS 2.0. Comment | Trackback

  • Rico

    It’s obvious she was just attempting to be funny.  I’m not sure even an admonition was necessary.  She does have a history of making bad decisions (marrying Ed).

  • Anonymous

    I think the answer to so many questions about Rebekah’s outrageous rulings is finally known:  it appears that there were donors to her “favorable ruling” club.

    -Somehow her fundraising idea seems like it probably came from the Lake County Democrat organization…..

  • Scooter

    Words, especially when written down, mean something.

    She was foolish to do it, or allow it to be done.  When you work for the government, you have to avoid all appearances of impropriety.

     

  • Rico

    …or the appearance of stupidity.  

  • the stime

    she is almost the worst criminal judge ever. but, even i don’t think she needs to be punished for this. it was just a joke. a bad joke, not even funny, nor original. but, still just a joke.

  • Abdul is a Fart Face

    Abdul -

    You had that coffee with Terry yet? Didn’t think so. I spoke with him over Thanksgiving. He thinks you are a dousche. His words. Again.

    Thanks,

    Awesome

  • Not funny

    You are very silly, not funny, and you need to find something else to do, like grow up.

  • Think Again

    A very sad affair.

    She married the appointing bully.

    Not much more needs to be said.  Except:

    Rico: the bench is meant to be above reproach.  It was a serious breach of ethical conduct and a complete violation of the Ethics Code. I am not a huge fan of the Chief Justic,e but ink this case, he presided and ruled appropriately.

    Now if we could just get the US Supreme Court to abide by the same Ethics Code they demand of other federal judges.  

  • Pogden297

    It was just a bad joke.  People are missing the much bigger ethical problem, that judicial candidates are raising money to pay slating fees which are specificially prohibited by the ethics rules.

  • Pascal

    Paul is correct here.  Indianapolis is the only area of Indiana which tolerates this form of corruption and The Chief Justice has very flat hands for not ending the corruption.  The chairs of the parties can raise money without holding up judges and compelling them to break ethics rules.  Perhaps the Legislature could hasten old Randall off the pot?  Do the job or get off the court?

  • Smalltimelawyer

    NO, she was NOT being funny.  She and Ed Treacy were shaking down the legal community, again.  This is NOT the first time this type of flyer was used.  If you don’t pay, you get “attitude galore” from Judge emotional wreck Treacy.

    If you’re on her hubby’s political hit list…boom!
     
    In the end rulings tend to resemble ‘bad decisions’.

  • pascal

    http://www.ogdenonpolitics.com/2011/12/brandon-johnson-acquitted-of-baseless.html  So, TA, how do you put lipstick on this pig?  About how many tax dollars did your boy, Mr. Curry, flush down the drain on this matter?  Am I wrong to think that Mr. Curry is stupid?

  • pascal

    You know, or should know, that when someone acts “Ultra Vires”, in my opinion,  he becomes personally responsible for his action.  So, if your prosecutor wants to get off his butt and get some taxpayer money back from Mr. Vaugh,in my opinion, he could do so.  My opinion is that Mr. V’s action with the no bid, bloated contract, looks very much like a sole flight and your guy ought to look at it and see if he is competent to get the money back or if Mr. V was competent to do what he did.