Opinion
Supreme Court Case No. 22S-JD-148
07-26-2022
In the MATTER OF the Hon. Sabrina R. BELL, Former Crawford Circuit Court Judge
Published Order Terminating Suspension as Moot
On May 12, 2022, we issued an order suspending Respondent, Sabrina R. Bell, with pay, effective immediately and lasting until further order of the Court, as the result of the filing of a criminal domestic battery charge against Respondent. See Indiana Admission and Discipline Rule 25(V)(A). The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications ("Commission") has now filed a "Notice of Closure of Investigation and Request to Terminate Suspension" ("Notice") requesting that Respondent's suspension be terminated as moot, for reasons explained below.
Attached to the Notice is a joint "Stipulation and Agreement for Resolution of Investigation" ("Agreement") entered into by the parties. The Agreement indicates Respondent has resigned her office effective July 15, 2022; has affirmed that she will never again seek or accept judicial office or perform any judicial duties; will relinquish her license to practice law for 150 days by going on inactive status; and will retake and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination prior to resuming active status. The Agreement further indicates that in exchange, the Commission has agreed to conclude its investigation without further proceedings. Finally, the Agreement indicates that should Respondent violate any of its terms, the Commission will revive its investigation and the matter will proceed.
Respondent's resignation of her office and the terms of the Agreement render her interim suspension moot. Accordingly, the Court ORDERS that Respondent's suspension in this matter be terminated as moot.