Commissioner permanently banned as judge

The Indiana Supreme Court approved an agreement between the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications and a former Marion County commissioner and issued an order permanently banning her from serving as a judge.

Nancy L. Broyles reached an agreement with the commission to drop a hearing after about a dozen charges were filed against her and Marion Superior Judge Grant Hawkins for a nearly two-year delay in releasing a man who had been cleared of rape charges by DNA evidence.

According to the order released this afternoon by the high court, Broyles is permanently banned from serving in any judicial capacity of any kind, including as a judge pro tempore. Broyles retired from the bench in April 2008.

In addition, the Supreme Court issued a public reprimand against Broyles for admissions made as part of the agreement. Mitigating statements from Broyles included a consistent showing of remorse for the events that brought her before the commission and that she had served the bench and bar of Indiana for nearly 30 years and earned a reputation as a fair and impartial jurist.

An opinion from the Supreme Court will follow, but the order shall be considered dispositive of the case as it pertains to Broyles. An assessment of costs will be determined after the case as it pertains to Judge Hawkins is concluded, the order stated.

A two-day hearing was conducted Monday and Tuesday for Judge Hawkins, who faces multiple misconduct charges for alleged dereliction of duty and delay. The three judicial masters – Delaware Circuit Judge Marianne Vorhees, Lake Superior Judge Clarence Murray, and Elkhart Circuit Judge Terry Shewmaker – are presiding over the case and expected to issue a report by Nov. 14.