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Judge John M. Plummer III Set to Resume the Bench Following 60-Day Suspension
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Official dockets from the Indiana Supreme Court confirm that Lawrence Superior Court I Judge John M. Plummer III is scheduled to automatically return to active judicial service this week.
His 60-day unpaid suspension, handed down by the state's highest court on May 20, 2026, officially terminates at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, July 20, 2026.
Here are the verified facts behind the disciplinary action and his scheduled return:
- The Misconduct Findings: The Indiana Supreme Court found that Judge Plummer committed judicial misconduct by consuming cannabis-infused gummies and vaping marijuana over a four-month period between February and May 2025. This led to observations of an erratic, agitated demeanor and specific findings of impairment during an April 30, 2025, Lawrence County Council budget meeting.
- The Investigation: Disciplinary files show that Plummer initially minimized his usage and provided contradictory, equivocal testimony under deposition to the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications. He later acknowledged that his deposition testimony reflected a materially inconsistent and incomplete account of his substance use.
- The Reinstatement Ruling: The Supreme Court noted that a criminal act for which any citizen can be punished is much more serious when the conduct is that of a judge. However, justices approved his automatic reinstatement based on multiple mitigating factors: Plummer has no prior disciplinary history, voluntarily sought therapeutic and psychiatric treatment, accepted responsibility, and an independent evaluation by a neuropsychologist determined he does not have a substance use disorder.
Plummer took office in 2018 and has been on a paid leave of absence from his general docket—which includes civil cases, criminal cases, and the county's domestic violence court—since September 2025.
The formal tracking logs, disciplinary orders, and complete supreme court opinions have been fully updated in our local public records database.
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