The Senate Appropriations Committee heard Sen. Bray’s SB 507 on attorney and judicial discipline complaints. Despite the title, this bill does not mention judicial discipline complaints. This bill permits a prosecuting attorney and a county public defender to seek reimbursement from the state for reasonable attorney’s fees incurred in defending against a charge of attorney misconduct if the alleged misconduct relates to the person’s official duties or status as a prosecuting attorney or public defender, the charge of misconduct does not result in a sanction (except for a private reprimand), and the attorney general approves the reimbursement. The bill was amended to define public defender as someone who is salaried as a public defender. The amended bill passed 11-0.
Read the bill at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2015/bills/senate/507.