In the Matter of William Young
943 N.E.2d 1276
Ind.2011Background
- Judicial disciplinary action against William E. Young, Marion Superior Court judge, by Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications.
- Parties filed a Conditional Agreement admitting stipulated facts and violations; the Supreme Court accepted the agreement on Nov. 23, 2010.
- Hollinsworth bench trial (Feb. 4, 2009): judge refused plea, pressured trial over plea, and imposed maximum sentence; later sentence modification occurred.
- Hollinsworth appeal (2010) reversed for judicial conduct; Court found multiple Canon 2/Code violations.
- Respondent admitted to high penalties for trial-seeking defendants and misstatements about burden of proof; failures to consider case-specific circumstances.
- Sanction: suspension without pay for 30 days commencing Feb. 22, 2011; costs assessed; proceedings terminate on reinstatement day.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether Hollinsworth conduct violated Code of Judicial Conduct and Rule 1.2 | Young violated Canon 2 and Rule 1.2 by biased, prejudicial conduct. | Young contends conduct was within discretionary judicial rulings? | Yes; violations established. |
| Whether imposing higher penalties for trial refusal violated Rules 1.2, 1.1, 2.2, 2.6 | Systematically heavier fines for those who go to trial were prejudicial and improper. | Penalty discipline reflects administrative judgment and deterrence. | Yes; violations proved. |
| Whether misstatements about the State's burden of proof violated related rules | Advisements mischaracterized burden; undermined neutrality. | Advisements were inadvertent and part of routine proceedings. | Yes; violations established. |
| Whether the agreed sanction is appropriate given conduct | Suspension without pay is warranted by willfulness and impact. | Settlement justifies sanctions; no prior discipline. | Yes; 30-day suspension affirmed. |
Key Cases Cited
- Hollinsworth v. State, 928 N.E.2d 201 (Ind. 2010) (reversed for judge's conduct; supports Canon 2/impairment findings)
- Matter of Koethe, 922 N.E.2d 613 (Ind. 2010) (suspension is a significant sanction and not minor)
- Matter of Hawkins, 902 N.E.2d 231 (Ind. 2009) (illustrates standards for discipline and public impact)