Former Franklin County judge banned from judicial service

(INDIANAPOLIS) – The Indiana Supreme Court has permanently banned former Franklin County Judge J. Steven Cox from judicial service. 

The high court announced their decision today based on accusations of wrongdoing that were made against Cox by the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications. 

According to court documents, the discipline stems from Cox’s actions during the case involving Gregory Guilfoyle, who shot his wife before getting into a gun battle with a Franklin County deputy in December 2022. 

Cox allegedly had an ex parte visit to Guilfoyle’s home in January 2023 without the prosecutor or defense attorney’s knowledge. 

On Thursday, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled that Cox is no longer eligible for judicial service, including as a judge pro tempore or senior judge. 

“We cannot suspend [Cox] because he is no longer on the bench. But for the foregoing reasons, we believe that preserving the integrity of the judiciary and ensuring the fair administration of justice require us to impose the maximum sanction available under the circumstances—a public reprimand and permanent ban from serving as a judicial officer,” the Indiana Supreme Court ruled.

Cox had served as a Franklin County judge from 1995 to 2024 when he was defeated by current Judge Alex Dudley. 

Guilfoyle is now in prison after being found guilty by a jury last year. The Indiana Court of Appeals upheld his conviction earlier this month.