Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita speaks to the media on Friday, March 21, at his office in Indianapolis. Photo by Niki Kelly, Indiana Capital Chronicle.

News Release

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita and the state disciplinary commission are seeking to delay proceedings in a professional conduct case as both sides pursue mediation.

The request, filed Tuesday, Sept. 16, asks to suspend upcoming deadlines for preliminary exhibit and witness lists and to cancel a Tuesday, Sept. 30 pre-hearing. A three-person panel overseeing the case had previously encouraged mediation to avoid a December public hearing.

The parties have chosen Indianapolis attorney James Riley Jr., of Riley Bennett Egloff LLP, to serve as mediator. They face an Oct. 6 deadline to reach a resolution.

The dispute stems from Rokita’s 2022 reprimand for remarks he made about Indianapolis physician Caitlin Bernard, who provided an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio. During a television interview, Rokita referred to Bernard as an “abortion activist acting as a doctor.” He later accepted responsibility in a conditional agreement with the Indiana Supreme Court, which issued a public reprimand.

Disciplinary officials now argue Rokita undermined that agreement through subsequent public comments, raising questions about whether he violated professional conduct rules.

Rokita could face further sanctions if mediation does not resolve the case.