RANDOLPH COUNTY, IN – In a highly consequential ruling, the Indiana Supreme Court has ordered Randolph Superior Court Judge Dale Arnett to resign. It has permanently banned him from ever holding judicial office in the state again. The decision, handed down in November 2025, found that Judge Arnett committed judicial misconduct through a “long pattern of mismanagement, delay and dereliction of his judicial duties.”
The punishment, while allowing Arnett to retain his law license due to mitigating factors, is among the most severe sanctions available and ensures his permanent removal from a position of public trust.
Systemic Breakdown of Justice
The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications (CJC) documented a breakdown in the basic functions of Judge Arnett’s court that began shortly after he took office in 2020. The problems persisted even after repeated warnings from the Randolph County Prosecutor’s Office and other officials.
The court cited several shocking examples of how this mismanagement directly violated the due process rights of defendants:
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Illegal Jail Stays: Judge Arnett repeatedly failed to set timely initial hearings for arrested defendants. In one egregious case, a defendant was held in jail for 227 days without ever appearing before a judicial officer for an initial hearing.
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Case Dismissals: Due to the judge’s failure to act promptly and conduct trials in accordance with Indiana Criminal Rules, at least 10 criminal cases had to be dismissed between April 2023 and August 2025.
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Missing Orders: The commission identified over 90 cases with critical missing documents, including judgments of conviction, sentencing orders, and abstracts of judgment. In one instance, a plea hearing was held in March 2024, but the necessary sentencing order was still not issued when the judge took a leave of absence in April 2025.
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Failure to Supervise: He was found to have failed in his administrative duty to adequately supervise court staff responsible for scheduling and managing court events.
Supreme Court’s Justification
The Indiana Supreme Court ruled that the punishment “recognizes the seriousness and breadth of respondent’s violations while protecting the judiciary and the Randolph County community at large.”
Judge Arnett agreed that his conduct violated multiple provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct. He was required to tender his resignation to Governor Mike Braun on or before November 26, 2025.
Conclusion: Upholding Public Confidence
The permanent ban issued against Judge Dale Arnett sends a clear, unequivocal message: judicial office demands diligence, promptness, and meticulous adherence to legal rules. A failure to perform these basic duties not only compromises public safety by dismissing criminal cases but also violates fundamental constitutional rights. The action by the Indiana Supreme Court was necessary to restore public confidence in the judicial process in the Third Judicial District.