Former Schererville judge not returning to courtroom anytime soon
NWI Times
Apr 8, 2014
nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/schererville/former-s-ville-judge-not-returning-to-courtroom-anytime-soon/article_b2d22539-dec1-54eb-990d-a55a5b0352a9.html
INDIANAPOLIS | Former Schererville Town Judge Deborah Riga, who served 13 months in federal prison for public corruption, will have to wait at least five more years before she can apply to work again as an attorney.
The Indiana Supreme Court on Tuesday released its final disciplinary order against the former judge, whose last name now is Riga Gardner, suspending her from the practice of law for five years, without automatic reinstatement. She has been under interim suspension since 2008.
In most cases, suspension without automatic reinstatement is the equivalent of being disbarred, as attorneys receiving that punishment often never seek to regain their law licenses. Those who do typically aren't reinstated until double the suspension period has passed.
Riga Gardner, 57, will be required to show she is genuinely remorseful for her misconduct and fit to serve the legal profession, the courts and the public before she'll be permitted to practice law again, the state's high court said in its 5-0 order.
According to court records, after becoming Schererville judge in 2000, Riga routinely sent traffic and drug defendants to two diversion and counseling programs she secretly controlled, earning more than $30,000 in fees.
Her scheme was uncovered by federal officials investigating fraudulent absentee ballots cast during the 2003 Democratic primary election that Riga "won," but eventually lost to current Schererville Judge Kenneth Anderson after 23 false ballots were thrown out.
Riga pleaded guilty in 2006 to four counts of mail fraud for sending offenders information about her diversion programs.
She cooperated with federal officials in the prosecution of former political ally Robert Cantrell in exchange for a reduced sentence.
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