A state judicial commission is accusing Lawrence County Superior Court I Judge John M. Plummer III of misconduct for allegedly using marijuana and not being forthcoming when confronted about suspicions of drug use.
The judge has been on a paid voluntary leave of absence from the bench since Sept. 23, 2025. The annual salary for trial court judges in all counties is $183,513.
The seven-member Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications says Plummer engaged in illegal drug use and possession of marijuana. A state judicial news release says Plummer has 21 days from the April 17 filing to submit an answer to the charges.
Plummer, a Republican and a lawyer since 1996, was appointed a superior court judge in 2018. Then-Gov. Eric Holcomb chose him to fill a vacancy left when longtime judge Michael Robbins retired. Plummer was then elected in November 2024 to retain the job.
In 2014, Plummer had been appointed as juvenile court referee in Lawrence Circuit Court. Before that, he was in private practice with his father and also worked as a criminal public defender for indigent clients.
According to the state news release, judicial commission members charged Plummer with two counts of misconduct.
“The commission alleges that Judge Plummer violated the Code of Judicial Conduct when he failed to comply with the law by possessing and consuming marijuana and then failing to provide complete and candid information regarding this drug use,” the official complaint states. “The charges arise from the commission’s investigation into allegations that Judge Plummer behaved erratically and in an agitated manner on several occasions.”
The charging statement says the situation stems from “a personal crisis” Plummer underwent from February through May 2025, “the effects of which spilled into the Lawrence County court system and broader community.”
During those months, people working with Plummer noticed what they described as “significant changes” in the judge’s demeanor, judgment, and emotional state, “prompting concern for his well-being.”
The judicial complaint said that while having lunch with a retired judge in May 2025, Plummer disclosed he had been consuming marijuana obtained in Michigan, where the drug is sold legally.
In an August 2025 response to the commission’s investigation, Plummer reportedly admitted he had on occasion used “a small amount of THC” to help him sleep. The commission reported Plummer’s marijuana use had been more extensive, with three witnesses saying the judge had been using a THC vape.
It will be the Indiana Supreme Court that determines the outcome of the charges. They can be dismissed, there can be a disciplinary agreement signed or a public hearing can be held. Possible sanctions include a fine, a reprimand, a suspension and a ban on holding judicial office.
State supreme court public information officer Kathryn Dolan said other Lawrence County judges and retired judges have been managing Plummer’s caseload in his absence.
Plummer’s lawyer, Glen Koch, said he had no comment on the allegations.
Contact H-T reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Indiana judge faces misconduct charges over alleged marijuana use
Reporting by Laura Lane, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
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