IN RE: Hon. Jason A. CICHOWICZ (2023)

Published Provisional Order Accepting Statement of Circumstances and Conditional Agreement for Discipline

On February 7, 2023, the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications (“the Commission”) filed a “Notice of the Institution of Formal Proceedings and Statement of Charges” against Jason A. Cichowicz (“Respondent”), Judge of the St. Joseph Probate Court. Pursuant to Indiana Admission and Discipline Rule 25(VIII)(H), the Commission and Respondent have now submitted for approval a “Statement of Circumstances and Conditional Agreement for Discipline” and a “Verified Statement of Agreement to Proposed Disposition.” Having reviewed the Conditional Agreement, the Court ACCEPTS its facts and agreed discipline. Apart from the discipline imposed below, this is a provisional order. An opinion of the Court fully explaining this disposition will follow.

Accordingly, the Court orders that Jason A. Cichowicz shall be suspended from the office of Judge of the St. Joseph Probate Court without pay for forty-five (45) days commencing at 12:01 a.m. on September 5, 2023. The suspension shall terminate and the Judge shall automatically be reinstated to office at 12:01 a.m. on October 20, 2023. The costs of this proceeding for Counts 3, 4, 5, and 6, are assessed against Respondent. Pursuant to the parties’ stipulation, the Court hereby orders Respondent to pay $3,824.00 by check made payable and transmitted to the Clerk of the Indiana Supreme Court. Upon receipt, the Clerk is directed to disburse those funds as follows: (1) $3,574.00, payable to the Commission as reimbursement for investigative expenses incurred; and (2) $250.00, payable to the Clerk for court costs. The Masters appointed in this case are discharged, and we thank them for their diligent service in this matter.

All Justices concur.