#IndianaAG #ToddRokita #reprimandedcomments
Indiana AG Todd Rokita to be reprimanded for comments about abortion doctor Caitlin Bernard Show Title Hide Title First to Move The inside story of how Indiana essentially outlawed abortion. Watch conservative Indiana attorney James Bopp Jr., Rep. Renee Pack , and reporter Niki Kelly put context of the fight for abortion access in state of Indiana. Under opinion issued Thursday, Rokita will receive a public reprimand and pay $250 to the clerk of Indiana Supreme Court. Opinion, Rokita's Dr. Caitlin states that her description of Bernard as "an abortion activist who pretended to be a doctor and had a history of failure to report" was abuse. Judges Mark Massa, Geoffrey Slaughter and Derek Molter agreed in the opinion issued Thursday that Rokita violated attorney rules. In a dissenting opinion, Chief Judge Lorretta Rush and Judge Christopher Goff said the discipline was too lenient given Rokita's position as attorney general. In a statement released Thursday afternoon, Rokita continued to strongly criticize Bernard. The attorney general said could fight over the "16-word real answer" he would give on Fox, but wanted to "save taxpayer money and distraction." To resolve the complaint, Rokita said he had to sign an affidavit "without any modifications." Rokita said in his statement "As I said then, my words are true." “The IU Health doctor who created a stir in international media at the expense of his patient's privacy is an outspoken abortion activist through his own actions.” Bernard's representatives told IndyStar on Thursday that they would "let the rebuke speak for itself." What Todd Rokita did wrong The Indiana Supreme Court's disciplinary panel filed criminal charges in September, alleging Rokita violated rules of professional conduct by making statements about Bernard and the case of a 10-year-old Ohio girl who sought an abortion in Indiana. The disciplinary commission investigates and prosecutes cases where lawyers are accused of violating Indiana courts' rules of professional conduct. The state's Supreme Court justices ultimately decide whether there has been misconduct and what type of disciplinary action someone receives. Former IU law school Dean Lauren Robel filed one of the complaints against Rokita in this case, as did Don Lundberg, the disciplinary committee's former executive director. In its opinion Thursday, the Supreme Court specifically found Rokita violated rules state lawyer cannot make public statements about an investigation are likely to “materially prejudice” the proceedings and a lawyer “shall not use means serve no significant purpose other than to embarrass.” delaying or burdening third party.” Because Rokita admitted to both violations, justices dismissed third charge, according to opinion, that he had violated confidentiality requirements in Indiana law before filing a complaint against Bernard with Medical Licensing Board last year. Kathleen Clark, a law professor at the St. Louis School of Law, said Rokita's explanat
