Kosciusko Superior Court II Judge Torrey Bauer says Joe Sutton is entitled to his opinions, but that Sutton is uninformed and mistaken.
“With specific regard to the lady, OK, he has no knowledge of the facts of that case nor apparently does he have a knowledge of domestic relations law, because he has never practiced it.
“The order I entered was a direct result of the obligations she had been placed under by her own accord and by the previous order of (Kosciusko Circuit Court) Judge (Mike) Reed,” Bauer said. “I was enforcing a prior judge’s order when I sent her to jail. That was not my order. I understand why people would be upset, but I am required to follow the law. I’m required, at times, to enter decisions that I don’t personally like but which the law requires.
“I believe it is inappropriate for a judge to comment on a case to which he has no knowledge of. He was not in the courtroom, he did not hear the evidence, nor is he familiar with the history of the case that had preceded that hearing. I find it odd that a judge who has never handled a dissolution or family law case in private practice, nor to my knowledge has presided over a contested visitation hearing, would feel it appropriate to question my decision.
“I also believe it is unfortunate that Judge Sutton has chosen to broach this subject publicly given that the father involved has a scheduled criminal jury trial in my court, which I will now be forced to recuse myself from and appoint a special judge, which will slow down the resolution of a serious criminal offense.”
“My response to work ethic is, I will stand on what I have accomplished in Superior Court II in the last six years and I would encourage anyone who is interested to speak with the prosecutor’s office, law enforcement officers, defense attorneys or probation officers who work in my court and ask them if Superior Court II is in better shape than it was six years ago,” Bauer said. “I run an efficient, orderly and streamlined process to resolve cases in my court.”
“I’ve got 23 years of private practice and six years in Superior II and I’ve transformed that court into a model of efficiency.”
