BEDFORD— The Indiana Supreme Court has issued a 60-day unpaid suspension for Lawrence Superior Court 1 Judge John M. Plummer III following an investigation into his use of marijuana and subsequent “half-truths” told to investigators.
The suspension, which took effect on Thursday, May 21, bars Plummer from presiding over any cases, performing judicial duties, or entering court facilities until his scheduled reinstatement at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, July 20.
The disciplinary action stems from formal charges filed last month by the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications. According to Supreme Court documents, Plummer engaged in judicial misconduct by ingesting marijuana over a four-month period between February and May 2025.
The high court’s opinion noted that Plummer’s substance use, which reportedly involved vaping marijuana and consuming cannabis-infused gummies, caused visible impairment during his professional duties. Witness testimony from court staff, local attorneys, and county officials described “significant changes” in the judge’s demeanor, appearance, and actions.
“We find that Respondent… committed judicial misconduct by ingesting marijuana over a four-month period, causing his impairment at a county council meeting and his otherwise erratic and agitated demeanor,” the Supreme Court wrote in its official opinion.
Plummer had already been away from his standard courtroom duties, having been placed on paid administrative leave since September 2025 while the investigation played out.
Beyond the drug use itself, the commission’s findings heavily penalized Plummer for being “less than forthcoming” when confronted by colleagues and investigators.
Plummer initially confided in an associate that he vaped “five puffs daily” and told a separate judicial officer that he used a “small amount” of marijuana to help him sleep.
During a formal deposition in November 2025, investigators say Plummer contradicted his earlier statements, denying that he vaped and claiming he had only ever mentioned using gummies.
The commission ultimately determined that Plummer “minimized, equivocated, and provided half-truths about his substance use,” which directly violated the state’s strict Code of Judicial Conduct.
Why the Judge Was Not Removed From Office
A 60-day unpaid suspension is considered an exceptionally harsh penalty for a sitting judge in Indiana. The Supreme Court emphasized that suspensions lasting longer than 30 days represent “extremely serious judicial misconduct, just shy of what might warrant removal from office.”
However, the court opted to allow Plummer to eventually return to his seat on the bench rather than stripping him of his robe entirely, citing several mitigating factors:
Plummer has an unblemished record with no prior judicial or attorney disciplinary issues.
The court noted his substance use occurred during a period of intense “personal stress and instability,” and praised Plummer for voluntarily seeking therapeutic and psychiatric treatment.
A neuropsychological examination later determined that Plummer does not suffer from a substance use disorder.
Though the court noted it happened “perhaps belatedly,” Plummer ultimately accepted full responsibility for the misconduct.
The high court concluded that these steps, combined with the two-month financial and professional penalty, provide a viable pathway for Plummer to eventually regain the public’s confidence when he returns to the Lawrence County courthouse this July.
