Eric J. Mapes, Appellant, v. Carroll County, Indiana, et al., Appellees. (2025)

Published Order to Show Cause

Nearly three years ago, we issued an order cautioning Appellant—who, at that time, had initiated ten appeals—that “continuing his pattern of misuse of motions practice, and his misuse of Clerk's Office resources and abuse towards its personnel, will likely result in the Court restricting his filings and his communications with Clerk personnel.” Mapes v. State, 201 N.E.3d 1168 (Ind. 2023). On July 17, 2025, the Court of Appeals issued an order in the above-captioned matter finding that Appellant—who has now initiated eighteen appeals—“is a prolific, abusive litigant whose numerous filings have been a drain on judicial resources.” This order imposed restrictions on Appellant's ability to file new documents and communicate with the Appellate Clerk. And on December 18, 2025, the Court of Appeals issued an opinion remanding this matter to the trial court “with instructions to consider the specific abusive conduct by Mapes and impose any conditions or restrictions it deems appropriate to thwart such conduct.” Slip op. at 12.

Instead of heeding this Court's caution in Mapes v. State in 2023, and instead of complying with the Court of Appeals’ July 2025 order restricting Appellant's communications with the Clerk's office, Appellant has continued to call the Clerk's office hundreds of times. For example:

• On August 18 and August 19, Appellant called the Clerk's office 21 times;

• On September 11, Appellant called the Clerk's office 16 times in a 30-minute period;

• On November 24, Appellant called the Clerk's office 44 times in just over an hour, refused to give his name, and called a staffer an explicit epithet;

• On November 25, Appellant called the Clerk's office 20 times in just over an hour and told a staffer he was “going to do this all day”;

• On November 26, Appellant called the Clerk's office 3 times in 2 minutes; and

• On December 8, Appellant called the Clerk's office 5 times in 35 minutes.

Although the Clerk's office has blocked Appellant's phone number, Appellant uses other numbers or calls from an unknown number. Over the last five months, Appellant has also frequently contacted numerous other court personnel, including several staffers from this Court, and insisted that they transfer his calls to the Clerk's office.

In 2023, we cautioned Appellant that continuing his abusive conduct “will likely result in the Court restricting his filings and his communication with Clerk personnel,” and earlier this year, the Court of Appeals imposed restrictions accordingly. But Appellant has continued his pattern of misuse of Court and Clerk resources and abuse towards its personnel. Accordingly, within ten days from the date of this order, Appellant shall SHOW CAUSE in writing why this Court should not impose filing and communication restrictions consistent with those imposed by the Court of Appeals in its July 17, 2025 order.

Done at Indianapolis, Indiana, on 12/19/2025.

Mark S. Massa Acting Chief Justice of Indiana

All Justices concur except Rush, C.J., who did not participate in the decision of this matter.