Crawford County Circuit Court Judge Sabrina Bell has been arrested by state police on a domestic battery charge.
County Sheriff’s deputies responded on April 12, 2022 to a domestic violence complaint at the home of 40-year-old Bell. Her ex-husband, Douglas A Goerss, told deputies Bell started arguing with him when he went to her home to pick up their children for a scheduled visit.
Goerss said the argument ended with Bell striking him on the neck and cheek with her hand. The probable cause affidavit says an investigation confirmed the altercation was witnessed by two of the couple’s three children.
Bell was booked into the Crawford County jail Wednesday, but has since been released.
The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications placed Bell on a temporary suspension.
Bell’s interim suspension “remains in effect until further order of the Court or final determination of any disciplinary proceedings, if any, that may arise from the criminal charges,” the Supreme Court said.
The Commission on Judicial Qualifications is the 7-member group that investigates alleged ethical misconduct by judges. Chief Justice Loretta Rush chairs the Commission. The Indiana Supreme Court has final authority over judicial discipline.
Bell served a 30-day suspension in 2019 for her involvement in a downtown Indianapolis fight and double-shooting that followed a night of bar-hopping.
. Crawford County Judge arrested on domestic battery charge by Indiana Public Media News on Scribd
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
