12172004 - News Article - EDITORIALS - State Supreme Court to Joan Kouros: Pay up

Also See:

09242017 - News Article Links - Disparity of justice: Comparison of Magistrate James Johnson's and Judge Joan Kouros' judicial investigations - Backlog of court cases

EDITORIALS - State Supreme Court to Joan Kouros: Pay up
NWI Times
Dec 17, 2004
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/state-supreme-court-to-joan-kouros-pay-up/article_1a9bf599-d14c-5ff8-b7a5-897f5d655ac7.html
The issue: Judicial fairness

Our opinion: The justices did her a favor that allows the soon-to-be deposed Lake County judge to collect her pension. It is time for her to repay the favor

It is payback time for soon-to-be deposed Lake Criminal Court Judge Joan Kouros. The Indiana Supreme Court has ordered Kouros to pay for the cost of the proceedings that removed her from her bench in the Lake County Government Center.

The $11,438.82 tab breaks down this way: $7,770 for three special masters' fees; $1,880 in court reporter fees' and $1,788.82 for investigation and litigation expenses.

The court ordered her removal Oct. 12, after nearly four years of investigating how she ran her courtroom. Lawyers complained they were not getting their fees in a timely manner. Jail inmate transfers were not done because Kouros was slow in completing routine paperwork. There was a backlog of hundreds of cases awaiting her signature on decisions made months earlier. The justices removed her because she failed to manage her caseload or provide them with the information needed to monitor her performance.

The justices did her a favor by keeping her on paid suspension until Feb. 25, when her removal is official. That way, she remains eligible for the minimum judicial pension benefits.

It is only justice that she repay the favor -- all $11,438.82 of it.

12152004 - News Article - Kouros to pay for removal proceedings - Bill comes to more than $11,000

Also See:

09242017 - News Article Links - Disparity of justice: Comparison of Magistrate James Johnson's and Judge Joan Kouros' judicial investigations - Backlog of court cases

Kouros to pay for removal proceedings
Bill comes to more than $11,000
NWI Times
Dec 15, 2004
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/kouros-to-pay-for-removal-proceedings/article_2d5a8939-3153-52fb-a1d2-249257a8dbdf.html
First she gets kicked off the bench; now she has to pay for it.

The Indiana Supreme Court ordered Lake Criminal Court Judge Joan Kouros to repay the cost of the proceedings to remove her from Courtroom 3.

The tab comes to $11,438.82, according to the Indiana Clerk of Courts' online docket.

The state's highest court made the unanimous decision to remove Kouros permanently Oct. 12. She had been put on paid suspension July 22.

In the October order, the Supreme Court determined Kouros would remain on paid suspension until Feb. 25, at which time her permanent removal would go into effect. That decision allowed Kouros to remain eligible for the minimum judicial pension benefits.

It took almost four years of investigating Kouros and how she ran her courtroom for the Supreme Court to remove her.

The October ruling stated, "The cost of the proceedings are assessed against respondent."

Last week, the costs were broken down as follows: $7,770 for three special masters' fees; $1,880 in court reporter fees; and $1,788.82 for investigation and litigation expenses.

The justices removed Kouros because she failed to manage her caseload or even "provide accurate information that would allow us to monitor her performance with confidence to ensure that justice is being administered fairly and promptly in her court."

Problems in her courtroom started four years ago when lawyers began complaining they were not getting their fees in a timely manner. In addition, jail inmate transfers were not done because Kouros was slow in completing routine paperwork. The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualification reviewed her court and found a backlog of hundreds of cases awaiting her signature on decisions made months earlier.

Kouros was appointed to the bench in 1997 by then-Gov. Evan Bayh, now a Democratic U.S. senator.

On July 27, the Supreme Court appointed Senior Judge Thomas Webber Sr. as judge pro tem in Courtroom 3.

Lawyers interested in applying for Kouros' seat have until Jan. 29.

The applications are available at all offices of the clerk of the Lake Superior Court and must be returned to the office of Ronald Layer, secretary of the Judicial Nominating Commission, 5832 Hohman Ave., Hammond.

Indiana Supreme Court Justice Robert D. Rucker will preside over the selection process. Interviews will be Feb. 11.