The Indiana Supreme Court made the decision on Thursday.
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(Franklin County, Ind.) - Former Franklin County Judge Steven Cox has been banned from taking the bench.
The Indiana Supreme Court made the decision on Thursday, citing that Cox committed judicial misconduct.
On April 3, 2025, the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications filed a complaint against Cox, accusing him of three counts of misconduct while presiding over a Level 1 felony criminal case, State v. Guilfoyle.
According to the complaint, Cox made improper communication with Guilfoyle at his home without attorneys present, relied on that communication to rule on issues in the case, and implemented a de facto policy of rejecting all written plea agreements.
"Due to his egregious misconduct, the Honorable J. Steven Cox is hereby publicly reprimanded and permanently banned from judicial service. As of the date of this opinion, he will no longer be eligible for judicial service, including as a judge pro tempore or senior judge, reads a statement from the Indiana Supreme Court.
Cox served as a Franklin Circuit Judge for 18 years.
As for Guilfoyle, the Indiana Court of Appeals recently upheld his conviction. He was found guilty by a Franklin County Jury last April on eight charges, including Attempted Murder and Neglect of a Dependent.
The charges stem from a December 2022 shooting.
Guilfoyle has been sentenced to 80 years in the Department of Corrections.
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