On Wednesday, February 8, 2023, The Indiana Citizen reported that the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission is investigating Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita for his criticisms against abortion.
Rokita made several statements last summer publicizing an investigation in regards to the OB/GYN Caitlin Bernard. He issued press releases and conducted media interviews after The Indianapolis Star published a story that included a report of the OB/GYN having performed an abortion on a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio.
The Indiana Legal Community criticized Rokita for this incident. One of them is a Former Dean of Indiana University School of Law, Lauren Robel who asserted that the top lawyer not only made accusations about Bernard without the existence of evidence but also failed to retract those comments when revealed to be false. “If he can throw the entire weight of his office without consequence to attack Dr. Bernard, he can do so to target any private citizen with whom he disagrees,” and “This is the opposite of the rule of law”, Lauren stated
Tinder and Brooks, who both gave their service as U.S. attorneys for the Southern District of Indiana stated, “A prosecutor should never wield the government’s extraordinary authority for political or ideological aims.”
Moreover, in December, a Judge presiding over a case against Rokita, Marion County Superior Court Judge Heather Welch found that Rokita had violated the State law when it disclosed that his office was investigating Bernard. In Bernard v. Rokita, 49D13-2211-MI-038101, a lawsuit was filed by Bernard to stop the attorney general from talking about the matter. Once an Order was issued, the attorney general’s office released a statement, declaring a “major victory.” Rokita had claimed the Doctor violated the 10-year-old’s privacy by discussing the abortion with the public.
For the most recent event regarding the matter, it was stated that Rokita is now being investigated by the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission for the said matter.
On the other hand, a managing partner of the law firm, Gene Schaerr, filed a Petition with the Supreme Court praying for Temporary Admission so he can represent Indiana in the case Rokita brought before the Medical Licensing Board against Indianapolis OB/GYN Caitlyn Bernard. A similar Petition to Appear before the Disciplinary Commission in the Grievance against Todd has also already been filed. Rokita accused Bernard as an “Abortion Activist” and failing to report the termination of the pregnancy in accordance with Indiana Law. This petition is the first public acknowledgment that grievances filed by several Indiana attorneys against Rokita’s matter about Bernard.
Source: The Indiana Citizen
Full story here.
