UPDATE: Fifth judge assigned after fourth denies appointment in AG Rokita lawsuit against SJCPD
ABC 57 UPDATE: St. Joseph County Circuit Court Clerk Amy Rolfes announced on Tuesday that Jenny Pitts Manier has been assigned as the special judge in AG Todd Rokita's lawsuit against the SJCPD.
Manier is the Superior Court 5 Judge in St. Joseph County, and this makes her the fifth assigned special judge in this case.
ORIGINAL STORY: ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- Judge Julie Verheye announced on Monday that she has denied her appointment as special judge in Attorney General Todd Rokita's sanctuary city lawsuit against the St. Joseph County Police Department.
Rokita recently filed a notice of potential conflict in the appointment of Verheye due to Deputy Attorney General Aaron Ridlen, an attorney for Rokita in this case, providing representation in defending Verheye in separate litigation.
Verheye said while there is no actual conflict of interest because of her connection to the Deputy AG, it would be best if no perceived conflict of interest exists.
The clerk will now need to assign a fifth special judge.
