On Monday, March 3, 2025, the Indiana Supreme Court granted an extension for the Disciplinary Commission to respond to a motion to dismiss filed by Attorney General Todd Rokita. The commission initially filed a disciplinary complaint against Rokita on January 31, 2025, and Rokita submitted his motion to dismiss the complaint on February 20, 2025. The commission’s request for an additional sixty days to respond to the motion was indicated to be unopposed by Rokita.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Theodore E. Rokita,” with case number 25S-DI-29.
The disciplinary complaint arises from Rokita’s defiance in response to a previous reprimand issued by the Indiana Supreme Court. Following an affidavit in which he acknowledged misconduct and accepted a public reprimand in 2024, Rokita contradicted his admission shortly afterward by issuing a statement that disputed the accountability he had previously accepted. This contradiction has led to the new charges against him.
According to Adrienne Meiring, the executive director of the disciplinary commission, Rokita’s retraction demonstrates a lack of candor with the court, as he had attested to his admission of violating Indiana Professional Conduct Rules. The new complaints include allegations of making false statements to the Supreme Court, engaging in dishonest behavior, and violating an agreement by issuing a press release that contradicted his prior acceptance of responsibility.
In response to the ongoing investigations, Rokita characterized the situation as “lawfare” aimed at silencing him and stated that these investigations have become distractions that create unnecessary costs. He emphasized that he had previously offered to accept responsibility over a year ago, but the matter continues to be revisited by what he described as politically motivated individuals.
The complaints against Rokita stem from his comments regarding Dr. Caitlin Bernard, an Indianapolis physician who performed a medication abortion for a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio in 2022. Rokita publicly called Bernard an “activist acting as a doctor” and announced an investigation into her conduct. Subsequently, the Indiana Supreme Court issued a public reprimand, confirming that Rokita’s statements constituted extrajudicial comments that could prejudice ongoing legal proceedings and that they served no substantial purpose other than to embarrass Bernard.
Rokita’s agreement to the disciplinary measures included a public reprimand and a payment of $250 in court costs. However, the same day he received the reprimand, he issued a statement defending his earlier comments and criticizing the media and “cancel culture.” The disciplinary commission cited these remarks and other related statements as evidence of Rokita’s lack of honesty to the Court after his admission of misconduct.
Despite the new charges, Rokita maintains that his press statement does not contradict the disciplinary agreement, asserting that the agreement did not restrict his right to speak truthfully on significant political matters. He expressed his commitment to enforcing the law and protecting the rights of Hoosiers, insisting that he is undeterred by the ongoing controversies surrounding the investigation.
As the disciplinary proceedings continue, the Indiana Supreme Court has set a new deadline for the commission to respond to Rokita’s motion to dismiss, which is now due by April 28, 2025. This extension allows the commission additional time to prepare its response in light of the complexities surrounding the case.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
