Court rules on discipline charges against senior judge

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Published: Wednesday, 17 April 2013 17:21

INDIANAPOLIS - In a settlement agreement with the Indiana Supreme Court, former Winamac attorney Lisa Traylor-Wolff has been permanently banned from judicial service and suspended from the practice of law for at least 45 days, effective immediately.

The decision was handed down by the state supreme court April 9. Traylor-Wolff, who has a law office in Logansport, has most recently served as a public defender in Cass County, and a senior judge serving Fulton and Pulaski counties.

The Indiana Supreme court ruled on disciplinary charges, filed by Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications in February, against Traylor-Wolff. The charges stemmed from allegations that Traylor-Wolff had an inappropriate relationship with a criminal defendant she represented.

In addition to the permanent ban and suspension, Traylor-Wolff was ordered to serve two years of probation, which include undergoing treatment with the Indiana Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program.

In the settlement agreement submitted by Traylor-Wolff and her attorney James Bell, she agreed to two of the charges filed against her, and a third charge was dismissed.

The Commission had alleged that Traylor-Wolff violated conduct standards that apply to all judges, including senior judges. Senior judges work on a part-time basis filling-in for trial court judges. These part-time judges, who are attorneys, are also permitted to represent clients. Full-time judges are not allowed to represent anyone in court. The charges against Judge Traylor-Wolff stemmed from allegations she committed misconduct while representing a client, not while serving as a judge. The Commission has jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute claims against senior judges.

The charges centered on allegations that Judge Traylor-Wolff had a physically intimate relationship with a 26-year-old client that she represented. Traylor-Wolff was appointed to represent a defendant on felony charges. The defendant was eventually convicted and sentenced to the Department of Correction (DOC). Traylor-Wolff continued representing the client on appeal. The Commission alleged she began a romantic relationship with the client while representing him. The Commission also alleged inappropriate conduct occurred when Traylor-Wolff and the client were in an attorney-client visitation room at the Miami Correctional Facility.

Under the settlement terms accepted by the supreme court, Traylor-Wolff agreed to the charges of engaging in an "improper romantic relationship with a client" while serving as his public defender; and to violating rules of the Indiana Code of Judicial Conduct. Count 1 of the Commission's complaint was dismissed.

Last year Traylor-Wolff did not ask to be recertified as a senior judge in 2013.