SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission wrapped up a two-day hearing into ethics charges against former Saint Joseph County Council attorney, Michael Misch late Wednesday afternoon.
Misch is accused of violating legal ethics laws in his handling of the late multimillionaire Levering Russell Cartwright's family foundation and having multiple conflicts of interest. Misch is accused of working with former SJC Probate Court Judge Jason Cichowicz why once represented Mr. Cartwright and inherited millions of dollars from Cartwright's estate.
Cichowicz was suspended from the bench for 45 days without pay in 2023 after admitting to his own judicial misconduct charges from the same commission over his handling of Cartwright's money. He then lost his reelection run in 2024.
Michael Misch served as treasurer for the Cichowicz for Judge campaign, as Cichowicz's lawyer and represented the Cartwright Family Foundation while serving as a board member on the Friends of the SJC Juvenile Justice Center, a non-profit that received nearly $200,000 in anonymous donations from the Cartwright foundation funneled through Michael Misch's law firm trust account according to investigators. The FOJJC paid two companies owned by Jason Cichowicz's father to make improvements at the JJC and buy cars for workers there.
Michael Misch could face penalties ranging from a reprimand to a suspension of his law license to disbarment.
No decision from the Hearing Officer is expected for at least 60 days.