Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill
INDIANAPOLIS – Lawyers in Attorney General Curtis Hill's disciplinary case filed documents today pushing for a two-year suspension of the state' top legal officer while his defense team said it is inappropriate to criminalize one-time physical contact between adults in bars.
One of the state's briefs said a suspension without automatic reinstatement is standard for attorneys who refuse to acknowledge the wrongfulness of their conduct, fail to accept responsibility, show no remorse and lack insight into their acts.
“The (Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary) Commission considers the misconduct in this case to be very serious and it cannot be brushed off as simply boorish behavior or overlooked as a misunderstanding of intent. Sexual assault causes serious, life—long harm, yet Victims are loath to report it because of the fear they will be discounted and blamed instead of the perpetrator,” the documents said.
“As Attorney General, he should be seeking to protect victims of sexual assault, not creating them or blaming them.”
Hill is accused of groping four women at a March 2018 post-legislative party held at an Indianapolis bar. One was a female legislator and the other three were staffers.
A special prosecutor chose not to file criminal charges against Hill, who is also facing a federal lawsuit.
Judge Myra Selby presided over a four-day hearing in October and will recommend in the case. Ultimately, though, the Indiana Supreme Court will weigh in on whether Hill is guilty and what sanction is appropriate if any.
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