Bedford Judge John Plummer Reinstated After 60-Day Suspension

Lawrence County Superior Court I Judge John M. Plummer III was automatically reinstated on July 20, 2026, after a 60-day unpaid suspension imposed by the Indiana Supreme Court.

Plummer’s court is based at the Lawrence County courthouse in Bedford, making the disciplinary matter a local court-operations issue for residents, attorneys, litigants and courthouse staff.

What the Indiana Supreme Court order says

The disciplinary order states that Plummer’s suspension began at 12:01 a.m. on May 21, 2026. It also provided for automatic reinstatement at 12:01 a.m. on July 20.

The order further states that the disciplinary proceedings tied to the underlying conduct were terminated. That language describes the status of the proceedings; it does not by itself establish that every allegation was disproved or that no conduct occurred.

An Indiana Public Media report also described the suspension and the July 20 reinstatement timeline.

What happened during the suspension

An earlier Indiana Judicial Branch release said Plummer was not hearing cases while the matter was pending. That establishes his status during the proceedings, but the available records do not provide a complete operational account of Superior Court I during the suspension.

In particular, the sources reviewed for this report do not identify which judges handled individual cases, whether a specific substitute judge was assigned, or whether court-administration procedures changed during the 60-day period.

What Bedford-area court users should do

The reinstatement matters most to people with active or upcoming business in Lawrence County Superior Court I. A judge’s status can affect where litigants, attorneys and witnesses direct questions about hearings, dockets and case administration.

People with pending cases should rely on their attorneys, the official Lawrence County court information, or the courthouse for case-specific guidance. The reinstatement date confirms Plummer’s return to judicial status, but it does not establish that he personally resumed hearing any particular case.

For Bedford residents, the key confirmed development is the end of the 60-day unpaid suspension and Plummer’s automatic reinstatement on July 20. Details about individual case assignments and courtroom scheduling require separate docket or administrative records.

Sources

• Indiana Supreme Court disciplinary opinion, Matter of John Maurice Plummer
• Indiana Judicial Branch release on charges against Lawrence County judge
• Lawrence County court staff directory
• Indiana Public Media report on the Lawrence County judge's suspension