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What's ahead in Kouros case?
NWI Times
Jul 16, 2004
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/mark-kiesling/what-s-ahead-in-kouros-case/article_ee46d8bf-5a1d-593c-b27b-304518c33582.html
While a panel of judges assigned to investigate allegations against Lake County Criminal Court Judge Joan Kouros wimped out, the state's Commission on Judicial Qualifications did not.
The three-judge panel of masters who investigated Kouros in April made no recommendation at all despite concluding she was unable to administer justice in a timely manner and had lied to the Indiana Supreme Court about it.
But Commission Counsel Meg Babcock, in her no-nonsense recommendation filed Wednesday, said Kouros could not be trusted and was making a mockery of the judiciary.
She recommended her removal and immediate suspension with pay. There was none of the wishy-washy legalese that characterized the report by the panel of masters.
Babcock noted maybe the most significant omission by the masters: The opinion of former Porter Superior Court Judge Raymond Kickbush's testimony before them in April.
Kickbush sat in for Kouros during an earlier suspension and his testimony is that of a respected veteran who believes justice did not operate in Kouros' court:
"I believe the operation of (Kouros' court), from what I've seen, even on the tail end, is too big a job for Joan Kouros. I'm concerned. I think people coming into court are entitled to justice and what involves prompt justice, and I think anything short of that we're shortchanging not only the litigants, which are the most important things in criminal cases, but the lawyers and their families and everyone else as well. In short, my opinion is that I don't, bottom line, think that she can do her job. I just don't think that."
During Kouros' suspension she would again be replaced by an interim judge, and who is named will say a lot about what's going to happen.
If a Democrat steps in, could there be pressure to cover for Kouros, to say she had cleaned up her court?
Former Porter Superior Court Judge Thomas Webber Jr.? Susan Severtson, wife of former state Democratic Chairman Peter Manous and now hearing officer for the workers' compensation board in Lake County?
Kouros is the daughter of East Chicago Councilman Gus Kouros, a longtime ally of East Chicago Mayor Robert Pastrick, and was named to the bench by former Gov. Evan Bayh, who has been friends all his life with the Pastricks and is now a U.S. senator.
How long a judge serves will also be a tip on what's ahead for Kouros. If the judge commits to a month, look for her to be back on the bench. A commitment through the end of the year allows for her removal and time for Democratic Gov. Joe Kernan to name a replacement before his term ends Dec. 31.
Looking beyond that, if Kouros can drag this out until the spring, she will put herself in position to resign and begin drawing a pension.
And if there is anything Kouros knows how to do, it's drag a case out.
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