The Commission does not review legal error or disputes about the merits of a judge's decision. Filing a complaint is not a substitute for appeal and has no effect on your legal or appellate rights. If you want or intend to appeal from a judge's order, you must pursue your appellate rights through the judicial system. The appellate process is subject to strict deadlines, and you should immediately obtain legal advice about your appellate remedies. The Commission may not give legal advice or help you decide whether to appeal. To file a complaint you must complete and submit a Complaint Against a Judge form, found below.
You can submit this form in one of two ways
- Open and complete the form, save it to your computer then attach it to an email and send it to jqcinquiry@courts.in.gov. When emailing a fillable form, save the form using the print as PDF option. If you do not know how to print as PDF, see this quick tutorial. Make sure you have the most current version of Adobe Reader installed.
- Open and complete the form, print it and mail it to 251N. Illinois Street, Suite 1600, Indianapolis, IN 46202.
A valid complaint must include:
- Your name, current address, all telephone contacts.
- The name of the judge and the court.
- All cause numbers (if related to a case.)
- Names and contact information for all attorneys who represented you at any time (if related to a case.)
- A concise, detailed, written statement of the judge's specific conduct you believe to have been unethical.
- Your signature on the complaint.
What is not necessary to include in your complaint:
- A copy of the Indiana Code of Judicial Conduct.
- A copy of specific statutes and other legal research.
Complaint Against a Judge Form
Please keep a copy of the completed complaint form and any attachments for your personal records. Staff will not be able to provide you with any copies later.
What to expect
Complaints are confidential:
- The Commission is required to maintain the confidentiality of all complaints and investigations unless formal charges are filed. You will be notified first, if that happens.
- You are not required to keep confidential your allegations or the fact that you filed a complaint, nor is the judge. However, if you do state or write your allegations to anyone outside the Commission, you lose your protection from a lawsuit, protection you otherwise have under Supreme Court rules for any statements made to the Commission without malice.
How the Commission handles a complaint:
- You will receive a letter by mail acknowledging receipt of your complaint. (Note: If you need to submit additional information about your complaint you need to follow the same procedure when you filed your original complaint. Please put "Supplement" on the front page of your new submission.)
- The Commission will review your complaint. (Note: The Commission only meets every other month.)
- Once the Commission reviews your case, you will be notified by mail of the decision. All decisions of the Commission are final and not subject to appeal.
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