Title: In re Hon. William I. Garrard

State: indiana

Issuer: Indiana Supreme Court

Document:

ATTORNEY FOR HON. WILLIAM I.  GARRARD, 
 
 
 
ATTORNEYS FOR THE COMMISSION  
SENIOR JUDGE 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ON JUDICIAL QUALIFICATIONS  
 
Kevin P. McGoff  
 
 
 
 
 
Adrienne L. Meiring 
Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP 
 
 
 
 
Mary Elizabeth Daulton 
Indianapolis, Indiana 
 
 
 
 
 
Indianapolis, Indiana 
 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
In the 
Indiana Supreme Court  
 
_________________________________ 
 
No.  98S00-1607-JD-381 
 
IN THE MATTER OF THE HONORABLE 
WILLIAM I. GARRARD, SENIOR JUDGE 
OF THE INDIANA COURT OF APPEALS 
 
_________________________________ 
  
JUDICIAL DISCIPLINARY ACTION 
_________________________________ 
 
August 3, 2016 
 
 
Per Curiam. 
 
This matter comes before the Court as a result of a judicial disciplinary action brought by 
the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications (“Commission”) against Respondent herein, 
William I. Garrard, Senior Judge.  Article 7, Section 4 of the Indiana Constitution and Indiana 
Admission and Discipline Rule 25 give the Indiana Supreme Court original jurisdiction over this 
matter. 
Together with the filing of formal charges by the Commission, the parties jointly tendered a 
“Statement of Circumstances and Conditional Agreement for Discipline” in which the parties have 
stipulated to the following facts.  On the evening of Tuesday, November 17, 2015, Respondent was 
involved in a motor vehicle collision in Mooresville, Indiana when he made a wide right turn and 
collided with another vehicle that was waiting for traffic to clear.  At the scene, police observed 
FILED
C L E R K
Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
Aug 03 2016, 1:41 pm
 
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that Respondent appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, and Respondent failed or could not 
complete field sobriety tests.  Respondent told police he had consumed one vodka on the rocks 
about two hours prior to the accident, and a preliminary breath test showed a blood alcohol 
concentration (BAC) of 0.14%.  Respondent was transported to a hospital for a voluntary blood 
sample, the toxicology report of which reflected a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15%.  En route 
to the hospital, Respondent asked the police officer, “Will you just take me home and forget about 
the drinking and driving?” At the hospital, Respondent made other statements reflecting that he did 
not want to be arrested and simply wanted to go home; and while the officer inventoried 
Respondent’s wallet, Respondent stated that he is a senior judge for the Court of Appeals.  
Respondent was arrested and subsequently charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated 
Endangering a Person, a Class A misdemeanor, see Ind.  Code § 9-30-5-2(b), and Operating a 
Vehicle While Intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor, see Ind.  Code § 9-30-5-1(a).  He self-reported 
his arrest to the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications on November 19, 2015 and indicated 
that he already contacted the Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program (JLAP). 
On June 14, 2016, Respondent pleaded guilty to the Class A misdemeanor charge, and the 
State dismissed the Class C misdemeanor charge.  Special Judge Sara Dungan entered judgment 
of conviction against Respondent and sentenced him to 365 days in jail, of which 309 days was 
suspended with 28 days of jail credit time.  Respondent was also placed on probation for nine 
months, his driving privileges were suspended for 90 days, and he was ordered to pay fines and 
court costs of $384.50. 
Respondent and the Commission agree that by being arrested and convicted for Operating 
While Intoxicated Endangering a Person, Respondent violated Code of Judicial Conduct Rule 1.1 
requiring judges to comply with the law, and Rule 1.2 requiring judges to avoid impropriety and 
to act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity of the judiciary.  
They further agree that Respondent also violated Rule 1.2 by asking a police officer to “just take 
[him] home and forget about the drinking and driving” and stating to the officer that he is a senior 
judge for the Court of Appeals.   
In aggravation, the parties agree that Respondent was involved in a property damage 
accident, and that he was questioned by police but not charged approximately a month prior for 
another property damage accident (hitting a road sign) and was under the influence of alcohol 
 
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when police spoke with him at his residence that same night.  In mitigation, they agree that 
Respondent immediately self-reported his misconduct and voluntarily contacted JLAP; that he is 
compliant with all JLAP requests and regularly attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings; that he 
has been fully cooperative with the Commission throughout its investigation; and that he is 
remorseful for his conduct.  Finally, they agree that under the circumstances, the appropriate 
sanction is a public reprimand.  The Court agrees with the parties. 
Accordingly, William I. Garrard, Senior Judge of the Indiana Court of Appeals, is hereby 
reprimanded.  This discipline terminates the disciplinary proceedings relating to the circumstances 
giving rise to this cause.  The costs of this proceeding are assessed against Respondent. 
All Justices concur.