Title: Matter of Berning

State: indiana

Issuer: Indiana Supreme Court

Document:

468 N.E.2d 843 (1984)
In the matter of Daniel R. Berning.
No. 1283 S 435.

Supreme Court of Indiana.
October 2, 1984.
Steven L. Langer, Valparaiso, for respondent.
William G. Hussmann, Jr., Staff Atty., Indianapolis, for Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Com'n.
PER CURIAM.
This matter is before this Court on a single count Verified Complaint filed by the *844 Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission charging the Respondent with violating Disciplinary Rule 7-108(D) of the Code of Professional Responsibility for Attorneys at Law. The Hearing Officer appointed by this Court pursuant to Ind.R.A.D. 23 has held a hearing and has submitted his findings of fact. Neither party has petitioned for review.
Upon examination of all matters presented herein, we find generally that the Respondent, Daniel R. Berning, is a member of the Bar of this State. On April 19, 1983, a misdemeanor battery case, State v. Mark A. Martin, was tried before a six-person jury in the Porter County Court. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty. Though he did not try the case, the Respondent was, during all relevant times, the elected prosecuting attorney for Porter County.
As a result of said verdict and in his official capacity as the prosecuting attorney of Porter County, the Respondent sent to each member of the jury in the Martin case, a letter. The letter was critical of the jury's decision and questioned their reasoning. It reads in part:
The letter was mailed on June 27, 1983, and was received and read by each one of the jurors. Their three-month jury term ended on June 30, 1983, though none of them served on a jury after receipt of the letter. The jurors' reactions included irritation, feelings of being harassed, anger, displeasure and embarrassment. Some felt the letter would influence their future jury service.
From the foregoing findings we conclude that the Respondent, as the duly elected prosecuting attorney with discretionary and supervisory authority, was a lawyer connected with the case. It is further apparent from the testimony of the jury members that Respondent's correspondence did harass and embarrass said jurors and would influence their future jury service. *845 Such conduct is clearly in violation of Disciplinary Rule 7-108(D) of the Code.
Having found misconduct, we must determine the appropriate sanction. The impartiality essential to our judicial process necessitates that jurors be protected against extraneous influences. The Respondent, by his critical and accusatory comments, has harassed the jurors for their decision and has sought to influence their future judgment in such cases. This conduct degrades the entire judicial process and diminishes the public's confidence in our judicial system. The Hearing Officer, on the other hand, does note that the Respondent appeared to be motivated by frustration and that the likelihood of further misconduct of this nature was negligible. In view of these considerations, we conclude that a public reprimand is appropriate under the circumstances of this case. Accordingly, the Respondent is hereby reprimanded and admonished for the misconduct under the Verified Complaint filed in this cause.
Costs of this proceeding are assessed against the Respondent.