Disciplinary Actions – 7/30/14

The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission brings charges against attorneys who have violated the state’s rules for admission to the bar and Rules of Professional Conduct. The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications brings charges against judges, judicial officers, or judicial candidates for misconduct. Details of attorneys’ and judges’ actions for which they are being disciplined by the Supreme Court will be included unless they are not a matter of public record under the court’s rules.

Resignation
Scott C. Cole, of Hendricks County, has resigned from the Indiana bar, effective July 10. Any disciplinary proceedings pending against Cole are dismissed as moot. He is not eligible to petition for reinstatement for five years. The costs of the proceeding are assessed against him.

Suspension
Benjamen W. Murphy, of Lake County, has been suspended for six months, beginning Aug. 22, with 60 days actively served and the remainder stayed subject to completion of at least three years of probation with Judges and Lawyer Assistance Program monitoring. In April 2003, Murphy pleading guilty to one count of reckless driving arising from an incident in April 2003. In December 2013, Murphy pleaded guilty to operating with a B.A.C. of at least 0.15, a charge arising from an incident in July 2009. Since his admission to the bar in 1998, Murphy has been charged on seven occasions with traffic violations between April 2003 and November 2012 – with the first six occasions including the charge of OWI.

The justices found Murphy violated Indiana Profession Conduct Rule 8.4(b). If Murphy violates his probation, the balance of the stayed suspension will be actively served without automatic reinstatement. The costs of the proceeding are assessed against him.•