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More Than 170 Indiana Lawyers Suspended: What the Latest Indiana Supreme Court Order Says About the State of the Legal Profession

Now Inbar Must Remove the Members Listed Below at the End of this HE Article
Now Inbar Must Remove the Members Listed Below at the End of this HE Article

INDIANAPOLIS – In a sweeping order that has received surprisingly little public attention, the Indiana Supreme Court has suspended well over one hundred attorneys for failing to comply with Continuing Legal Education (CLE) requirements, attorney registration obligations, and IOLTA certification requirements. The suspensions, issued under Supreme Court Cause No. 26S-MS-142, became effective July 1, 2026.


The list spans virtually every corner of Indiana and includes lawyers from major law firms, prosecutors' offices, government agencies, corporations, universities, and even attorneys residing outside Indiana but maintaining Indiana licenses.


For ordinary Hoosiers, the immediate question is simple:


If lawyers are required to follow strict rules, how many clients were represented by attorneys who were unknowingly on the verge of suspension?


The Court's order notes that the attorneys failed in one or more categories:

  • Failure to complete mandatory Continuing Legal Education.

  • Failure to pay annual attorney registration fees.

  • Failure to submit required IOLTA certifications concerning trust accounts.


Still most hoosier can find or afford a lawyer and more than few are still dismayed by their own lawyers departure, or disciplinary cases in the past, closing their practices.


Lawyers, Prosecutors, Government Attorneys and Big Firms on the List


The suspension list includes attorneys affiliated with some of Indiana's most recognizable institutions.


Among those listed were attorneys associated with:

  • Indiana University;

  • The Indiana Department of Revenue;

  • Old National Bank;

  • Hall Render;

  • Ice Miller;

  • Faegre Drinker;

  • Frost Brown Todd;

  • Ogletree Deakins;

  • Kightlinger & Gray;

  • Marion County Public Defender Agency;

  • County prosecutor offices;

  • Numerous corporate legal departments.


While suspension for administrative reasons does not necessarily imply misconduct or incompetence, the breadth of the list raises uncomfortable questions about compliance and oversight within the legal profession.


The public often hears lawyers and judges speak about the importance of professionalism, ethics, and strict adherence to rules. Yet every year, substantial numbers of attorneys find themselves suspended over administrative failures.


Critics argue that this creates an appearance of a "two-tier" system of justice.

For ordinary citizens, missing a court deadline can result in a default judgment, loss of rights, dismissal of claims, foreclosure, or even incarceration. Yet many suspended attorneys can often regain their licenses relatively quickly by curing deficiencies and paying penalties.


A Profession Facing Serious Challenges


The order may also reflect deeper problems facing the legal profession.

Across Indiana and nationally, many lawyers report:


  • Increasing burnout;

  • Mental health challenges;

  • Retirement without formal inactive status;

  • Rising costs of maintaining law licenses;

  • Growing dissatisfaction with the practice of law itself.


Some attorneys on the list may have retired informally, moved out of state, or simply allowed compliance requirements to lapse.


Others may have experienced personal hardships, illnesses, or financial difficulties.

Still, critics argue that the size of these suspension orders suggests systemic issues extending beyond individual oversight.


Indiana has seen repeated debates in recent years over:


  • Attorney discipline;

  • Judicial accountability;

  • Access to justice;

  • Rising legal costs;

  • Public confidence in the legal system.


The suspension order arrives amid continuing criticism of Indiana's legal institutions and increasing calls for reform.


Public Confidence in the Legal System is all but Gone Under Loretta Rush's Long Term As Chief Justice


For years, Indiana's judiciary has emphasized attorney professionalism and ethical compliance.


Yet public confidence in legal institutions remains fragile.


Many Hoosiers already believe that legal outcomes depend heavily upon one's personal wealth, importance, connections, or political influence.


The sight of another lengthy suspension list may reinforce concerns that the legal profession is struggling to police itself while simultaneously demanding strict compliance from everyone else.


Questions naturally arise:


  • Were any suspended attorneys actively representing clients at the time?

  • How many clients may have been unaware of their attorney's compliance status?

  • Are enough safeguards in place to notify courts and clients promptly?

  • Should annual compliance information be made more accessible to the public?


These questions become especially important in an era where public trust in institutions is declining.


The Supreme Court's Position


The Indiana Supreme Court emphasized that attorneys may seek reinstatement by satisfying the applicable requirements and paying any required penalties. The Court also noted that some attorneys had sought extensions and therefore did not appear on the suspension list.

Chief Justice Loretta Rush and the entire Court concurred in the order.


Still, the order serves as another reminder that the legal profession—like every profession—is not immune from administrative failures and accountability concerns.


A Wake-Up Call


Ultimately, this latest suspension order should serve as a wake-up call for Indiana's legal community.


Lawyers occupy a unique role in society.


They draft wills, protect constitutional rights, prosecute crimes, defend the accused, advise businesses, and help families navigate crises.


With such responsibilities comes an expectation that attorneys themselves will remain compliant with the very rules they are sworn to uphold.


For the public, the order may also be a reminder to periodically verify that their attorney remains in good standing and properly licensed and demand reform in Indiana Legal Regulation from their elected officials and representatives. In a time when faith in many institutions is under strain, transparency and accountability are more important than ever.


The Indiana Supreme Court's latest suspension order may be administrative in nature, but its broader implications reach far beyond paperwork.


It raises fundamental questions about professionalism, oversight, and public confidence in Indiana's legal system—questions that likely will continue long after many of these attorneys are reinstated.


This article is based on the Indiana Supreme Court's published order in In re Failure to Comply with Continuing Legal Education Requirements, Nonpayment of Attorney Registration Fees, and/or Failure to Submit IOLTA Certification, Cause No. 26S-MS-142 (June 17, 2026).


Indiana Attorneys Suspended in 2026, Listed by County

Allen County

  • Cynthia Amber — CLE

  • Danielle Lynn Flora, Close Hitchcock LLP — CLE

  • Aretha Carmenlita Green — Fees and IOLTA

  • Charity Anne Murphy — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Stephen Porter Rothberg, Stephen P. Rothberg, Attorney at Law — CLE

  • Thomas Dixon Smith VI, Law Office of Thomas D. Smith — CLE

  • Daniel Brian Starr, Do It Best Corp. — CLE and Fees

Bartholomew County

  • Justin M. Gifford — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Maureen Devlin O’Donnell, Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Lindsey Marie Tucker, Toyota Material Handling, Inc. — CLE

Boone County

  • Pamela Dils Buchanan, Buchanan & Bruggenschmidt, P.C. — CLE

  • Blaine Louis Dirker — CLE

Cass County

  • Michael Edward Boonstra — CLE

Clinton County

  • Charles David Little, Power Little, Little & Little Law Firm — CLE

Crawford County

  • Wilma Suzann Schrader — CLE

DeKalb County

  • Toni Anne McAlhany — CLE

Delaware County

  • Jacob Donald O’Conner — CLE

  • Michael Murphy Painter — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Gregory Butler Smith, Welch & Company, LLC — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

Elkhart County

  • Mackenzie Linnea Boling — CLE

Floyd County

  • Monica Adriana Molestina — CLE

Franklin County

  • David Kevin Mullen — CLE

Hamilton County

  • Chad Michael Buell — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Kytha Chambliss Eibel — Fees and IOLTA

  • Kevin Sean Fleck, Holt Legal Group — CLE

  • Molly Ann King — CLE

  • Michael George Ruppert, Ruppert & Schaefer, P.C. — CLE

Hancock County

  • Kolesa Antonette Lashley — Fees and IOLTA

  • Timothy John Wagner — CLE

Hendricks County

  • Jeffrey Vardaman Boles — CLE

  • Mark Vincent Defabis, Integrated Distribution Services, Inc. — Fees and IOLTA

  • Kevin Phillip Speer — CLE

Henry County

  • Martin Roland Shields — CLE

Johnson County

  • Stephanie N. Slone — CLE and Fees

Knox County

  • Justin Blaine McGiffen — CLE

Kosciusko County

  • Nicole Hebert Graham — CLE

Lake County

  • Charles Frank Albrecht, Kopka Pinkus Dolin PC — CLE

  • Corinth Bishop II, Law Offices of Corinth Bishop — Fees and IOLTA

  • Michael William Bosch, Michael W. Bosch, Attorney at Law — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Sean Patrick Boyle, Kvachkoff Law, Inc. — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Clifford Eugene Duggan Jr. — CLE

  • Stephanie Leigh Heim — CLE

  • Angela Lockett — CLE

  • Zachary Robert Peifer, Eichhorn & Eichhorn — CLE

  • Jamise Yolanda Perkins, Jamise Perkins Attorney-at-Law — Fees and IOLTA

  • Stephen Richard Place — CLE

  • Bredale Rucker — Fees and IOLTA

  • Linda C. Sams — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Timothy Sean Schafer, Schafer & Schafer, LLP — CLE

  • Curtis Philip Vosti — CLE

  • Ihor Alexander Woloshansky — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

LaPorte County

  • Jeremy Michael Noel, Friedman & Associates, P.C. — CLE

Madison County

  • Janine L. Hooley, Hooley & Associates — CLE

Marion County

  • David Bruce Behrmann, CBIZ APA — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Aftin R. Brown, Law Office of Aftin R. Brown — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Patrick Nelson Chastain — CLE

  • Jennifer Alicia Cooper — CLE

  • Andre Joseph Correale, Frost Brown Todd LLP — CLE

  • Jeffery Alan Evans, Law Office of Jeffery Evans — CLE

  • Ashley Kincaid Eve — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Don David Ezell Jr., Ezell Law Office — CLE

  • Christopher Lee Garrison, Garrison Law Firm, LLC — CLE

  • Blaise Anne Giannamore, MGA Professional Corporation — Fees and IOLTA

  • Robert Patrick Hurley — CLE

  • April Marie Jay, Kightlinger & Gray, LLP — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Douglas Meredith Klitzke, Indiana Department of Revenue — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Mallory Sue Korpalski, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP — CLE

  • Duane Edward Merchant, Marion Superior Court 9 — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Liesl Aryn Muehlhauser, Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman, P.C. — CLE

  • Jennifer Anne Pearcy, Old National Bank — CLE

  • Gregory Lee Pemberton, Ice Miller LLP — CLE

  • Victor Martin Peters, Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor — Fees and IOLTA

  • Ryan Paul Ray — CLE

  • Catherine Renee Reese, Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart PC — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Craig Robert Reinhardt — CLE

  • Julia Anne Rhyne — CLE

  • Matthew James Rinka, United States Attorney’s Office — CLE

  • Gretha C. Rodriguez-Franco, Rodriguez Franco Law LLC — CLE

  • Michael Vo Sherman — Fees and IOLTA

  • Adam Jeffery Strahan — CLE

  • Brian Anthony Villa, KCG Companies, LLC — CLE

  • Norman Allen Weeden — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Guillermo Isaiah Yanez, Marion County Public Defender Agency — CLE

Monroe County

  • Allison Marie Chopra, Chopra Criminal Defense — CLE and Fees

  • Richard James Godlewski — Fees

  • Marie Alexander Kuck — CLE

  • Samantha Ann Mitchell — Fees and IOLTA

  • Brennan Matthew Murphy, Indiana University — CLE

  • David Maryott Snyder, Old National Wealth Management — CLE

Morgan County

  • Ricky Joe Ruble — CLE

Newton County

  • Ryan David Washburn, Washburn Law — CLE

Porter County

  • Michael Joseph Didonna, Law Office of Michael Didonna — Fees and IOLTA

  • Lauren Nicole Meyer — CLE and Fees

  • Eleanore Lyn Moncada — CLE

Randolph County

  • Dale W. Arnett, Randolph Superior Court — Fees and IOLTA

St. Joseph County

  • John Drake Falvey — Fees and IOLTA

  • Kathryn Leigh Hough — CLE

  • James Henry Lockwood, Lockwood Legal Group, LLC — Fees

  • John Andrew Schoenig, Alliance for Catholic Education — Fees and IOLTA

  • Cleophus Washington, Washington & Associates Law Offices — CLE (Same as served as an Indiana State Senator and later worked in corporate affairs for AT&T. Is this the former state senator?)

Starke County

  • Timothy Joseph Lemon — CLE and Fees

Tippecanoe County

  • Sylvia Brown — CLE

Vanderburgh County

  • Kevin R. Bryant — Fees and IOLTA

  • Charles Richard Collins, Collins and Associates — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Alexandra Ruth Deeley, Berry Global, Inc. — CLE

Wabash County

  • Elden Eugene Stoops Jr., Law Offices of Elden E. Stoops Jr. — CLE

Warrick County

  • John William Weyerbacher, Weyerbacher Law Office — CLE

Attorneys Listed Under “Other”

The Court placed the following attorneys in an “Other” category, generally because the address appearing in the attorney-registration records was outside Indiana.

  • Scott Turberg Aaron, Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago — Fees and IOLTA

  • Joseph Patrick Ashbrook, Ashbrook Byrne Kresge Flowers LLC — CLE

  • Stephen C. Bartholomew, Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney, Ltd. — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Tekia Ritter Bazemore — Fees and IOLTA

  • Richard Brian Bohlen, Merit Systems Protection Board — CLE

  • Karie Holder Boylan, Little & Boylan, PLLC — CLE

  • Justin Antron Brathwaite — CLE

  • Joshua Sol Brewster — Fees and IOLTA

  • Darren Eugene Burroughs, LMHA — Fees

  • Shaun Ryan Bushing — CLE

  • Andrew Joseph Butcher, Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary, P.C. — CLE

  • Matthew Robert Cameron — CLE

  • Natalie Donahue Cox, Farm Credit Mid-America — CLE

  • Nathan Robert Danish — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Jeffrey Lynn Dash, International Motors, LLC — CLE

  • Eric Matthew David — CLE

  • Jeremy Daniel Davitz, Davitz & Rieser LLC — Fees and IOLTA

  • Edward Jerome Dent — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Mark Dennis Dupont — CLE

  • Janet Potynski Emanuel — Fees

  • Sue Ann Erhart, Great American Insurance Company — Fees and IOLTA

  • Michael William Feikes, Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration — Fees and IOLTA

  • Anthony Kenneth Finaldi, Ferreri Partners, PLLC — CLE

  • Ruben Franco III — CLE

  • Coriann Gastol — Fees and IOLTA

  • William Royal Gearhart II, Law Office of William Royal Gearhart — CLE

  • Owen James Gogarty — CLE

  • Michael Anthony Grazio — CLE

  • Jeffrey Allen Greene, MasTec North America, Inc. — CLE

  • Timothy Ryan Greer — Fees and IOLTA

  • Nadiah Hadir — Fees and IOLTA

  • Kurt Donald Hammel — CLE

  • Robyn Rebekah Willson Hattaway, Willson Hattaway Law PLLC — Fees and IOLTA

  • Steven Atwell Hauck, Zurich North America — CLE

  • Cory Christopher Hildebrandt — CLE

  • William Paul Hoye, IES Abroad — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Lesly Josary Iglesias — CLE

  • James Joseph Kenney, Law Offices of James J. Kenney — CLE

  • Momal Khan, Segal McCambridge — CLE

  • William Bryce Koon, Koon Law, PLLC — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Thomas Edward Lagrandeur — CLE

  • James L. Liggins Jr., Warner Norcross + Judd LLP — CLE

  • David Paul Lynch — Fees and IOLTA

  • Joanne Lynch, Tilford Dobbins & Schmidt, PLLC — CLE

  • Roberto Mario Martinez, Martinez Law LLC — CLE

  • Natalie Ann Mason, EyeMed Vision Care — Fees and IOLTA

  • Richard Thomas Mazzio — Fees and IOLTA

  • Dylan Wade McLean — CLE

  • Kelly Virginia Milam, Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. — CLE

  • Christopher David Morris, Lewis, Reed & Allen PC — CLE

  • William Ross Murphy — Fees and IOLTA

  • David Sean Nilsen, Furman Nilsen & Oyler, PLLC — CLE

  • Samantha Nuñez, Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres — Fees and IOLTA

  • James Martin Odom, Covenant Home Curriculum, Inc. — CLE

  • Toluwani Odueyungbo, Amundsen Davis, LLC — CLE

  • Mark Victor Pettinga — Fees

  • Christine Huyen Pham, Bauman Loewe Witt & Maxwell, PLLC — CLE

  • Jennifer Sarah Prusak, Vanderbilt Law School — Fees and IOLTA

  • Joshua Merwin Quincy — Fees and IOLTA

  • Marlena Nakia Latoya Ragland — CLE

  • Michael John Raiz — Fees and IOLTA

  • Janet Lynn Ramsey, Warner Norcross & Judd — CLE

  • Tina Marie Richards, City of Portland, Oregon — CLE

  • Sarah Lorraine Rounsifer, Artera — CLE

  • Hudson Thomas Rowland, Stripe — Fees

  • David Jacob Saylor III — Fees and IOLTA

  • Devin Keith Schaffer — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Aimee Adrienne Schatz, Michael D. Gallo & Associates — Fees and IOLTA

  • Charles Michael Scott, Montini Catholic High School — CLE

  • Mark Conrad Sherer, Covenant Legal Group — Fees and IOLTA

  • Samuel Sigmund Smith, U.S. Department of Labor — CLE

  • Marshall Torruella Snow, Snow LLP — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Katelyn Elizabeth Snyder — CLE and Fees

  • Patrick Michael Spellman, The Boyd Group (U.S.), Inc. — CLE

  • Ronald Anthony Stearney Jr. — CLE and Fees

  • Amber Lynn Straub — Fees

  • Arlene Therese Stubbers, Department of Veterans Affairs — Fees and IOLTA

  • John Michael Swart, Deschutes County District Attorney — Fees and IOLTA

  • Jeffrey David Thompson — CLE

  • Sawyer Nicole Thorp, Jane Doe Investigations — Fees and IOLTA

  • Saratalai Oluwatosin Tinubu — Fees

  • Wei Wang — CLE, Fees and IOLTA

  • Eugene Allen Williams — CLE

  • Jessica Lindsey Woodbridge — Fees and IOLTA

  • Emily Ruth Yoder, Hanna Campbell & Powell, LLP — CLE


About the Order


The Indiana Supreme Court entered the order on June 17, 2026. Although the suspensions were effective immediately for purposes of reinstatement requirements and applicable penalties, the prohibition against actually practicing law began at 12:01 a.m. on July 1, 2026.

An attorney named in the order may seek reinstatement by correcting the applicable CLE, registration-fee or IOLTA deficiency and following the procedures established in Indiana’s Admission and Discipline Rules.


The Court also explained that attorneys who received approved extensions from the Indiana Office of Admissions and Continuing Education were not included in Exhibit A.

The list is transcribed from the Court’s published order; business affiliations and compliance categories reflect what appeared in Exhibit A as of June 17, 2026.


(These kinds of orders are not widely reported and in the past were simply posted on the bullitin boards in Indiana's county courthouses.)

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