INDIANAPOLIS (HATE) – A Putnam Superior Court judge is facing disciplinary charges of bias against a woman in a dispute with her former romantic partner.

Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications Monday filed disciplinary charges against Judge Charles “Denny” Bridges.

The charges explain how Bridges made repeated derogatory statements against a woman and issued judgments before obtaining an opinion in her case against her former romantic partner. In her court filing, she said she sold their house but received no refund.

The charges shared one of the judge’s comments: “I guess because I’ve done so many of these cases, I see — I see women who make a habit out of it, and they’re — they’re just — they’re — I’m certainly not saying your client is. .., I don’t know her, I don’t know any of these people, but I see women doing this and it’s a job, knock a — knock a phrase.”

Another comment from the judge that was shared in the charges: “”If these people aren’t married and this woman is trying to get money out of him for a house that he lived in, I can’t help but – and I’m just… I have no idea, I don’t know the people, I don’t know the facts of the case, I’m just saying that my position is regardless of the position of everybody else in Indianapolis, that’s why I’m the Court of Appeals, if she wasn’t – if they weren’t married and she lived there and he had the benefit of living there and now he wants to claim what everybody calls ‘sweat equity’ nonsense, there is no ‘sweat equity’ in this court.”

The charges say Bridges’ remarks about women and his disdain for the woman’s case gave the impression that he could not be impartial.

Bridges will have 20 days to respond to the seven-person panel’s allegations. Next, the Indiana Supreme Court will appoint three “Masters” to conduct a public hearing on the charges, and then the justices will decide whether to sanction Bridges.

The Republican has served as a Putnam Superior Court judge since January 2009. His courtroom is based in the Putnam County Courthouse in Greencastle, a town about a 55-minute drive southwest of downtown Indianapolis. Putnam County has 37,500 residents.

press release

“The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications has filed disciplinary charges against Putnam Superior Court Judge Charles D. Bridges. The Commission contends that Judge Bridges has demonstrated an inability to perform judicial and administrative duties competently, diligently, promptly, and without bias or prejudice. Judge Bridges is permitted (but not required) to file an answer to the charges within 20 days.

“”Notification of institution of formal proceedings and statement of charges” (Case No. 24S-JD-393) is a public record and was filed in the Office of the Appellate Clerk. The charges are brought by the seven-member panel investigating alleged judicial misconduct.

“The commission charges two counts of misconduct. In one count, the commission alleges Judge Bridges violated the Code of Judicial Conduct, which requires a judge to act without bias or prejudice and to refrain from gender-based harassment. In the rest of the count, the panel charges that Judge Bridges violated the Code of Judicial Conduct and the Rules of Judicial Procedure by ruling on motions before allowing the opposing party to respond within deadlines and also by failing to rule on other motions.

“The Supreme Court has the final authority to determine what, if any, miscarriage of justice has occurred. The court can dismiss the charges, accept or reject a disciplinary agreement between the commission and Judge Bridges, appoint a panel of judges to conduct a public hearing, impose a fine or impose sanctions ranging from a reprimand to a suspension to a permanent ban. holding judicial offices in Indiana. More information about the commission can be found at courts.in.gov/ojar/about/members/. Judge Bridges is represented by attorney James Voyles, who can be reached at [email protected].”

Indiana Judicial Branch