The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications filed judicial disciplinary charges Wednesday against the Honorable Grant W. Hawkins and Commissioner Nancy L. Broyles of the Marion Superior Court.

The charges stem from the court’s mishandling of David Buntin’s post-conviction case, in which the court found after a 2-year delay that DNA evidence gathered after Buntin’s 1986 trial entitled him to have his rape and robbery convictions set aside.  The charges recite several instances in which the judges not only delayed Buntin’s case, but failed to provide timely and reliable information to the Commission about why the delay occurred.

The Commission’s charges state that Judge Hawkins and Commissioner Broyles violated rules for judges which require them to preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to respect and comply with the law, and to act in a manner which promotes the public’s confidence in the integrity of the judiciary, and that they committed conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.  The judges may respond to the Charges within 20 days, after which the Indiana Supreme Court will appoint, in each case, three Indiana judges, called Masters, to preside over the evidentiary hearings and file a report to the Court.  The final decision whether the judges committed misconduct and, if so, what professional sanctions are appropriate, is made by the Supreme Court.

Judge Hawkins is represented by attorney Kevin P. McGoff at (317) 635-8900 and Commissioner Broyles is represented by attorneys James H. Voyles and Jennifer M. Lukemeyer at (317) 632-4463.

The Charges against Judge Hawkins can be found at http://www.in.gov/judiciary/jud-qual/docs/charges/hawkins-040908.pdf.  The Charges against Commissioner Broyles can be found at http://www.in.gov/judiciary/jud-qual/docs/charges/broyles-040908.pdf.