Indiana Attorney General Seeks to Alter Disciplinary Process that Held Him Accountable

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is making it quite clear that despite past professional conduct violations, he intends to keep politicizing his position on issues dear to him, like abortion. He seeks to change the disciplinary process to make his activism even easier.

Back in 2022, AG Rokita publicly attacked a doctor for providing abortion care to a 10-year-old rape victim. Rokita called Dr. Bernard an “activist acting like a doctor.” For his attacks, he was “publicly reprimanded” by the Indiana Supreme Court for three violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct that governs attorneys in Indiana. The Indiana Supreme Court said Rokita’s statements “had no substantial purpose” other than to embarrass or burden Dr. Caitlin Bernard.” Rokita’s only consequence was a public reprimand and he went on to be reelected as Indiana’s Attorney General for a second term in November 2024. Meanwhile, Dr. Bernard and her family continue to suffer harassment as a result of Rokita’s attacks.

Two and a half years later, Rokita has never apologized for his actions and clearly has no remorse as he doubles-down on his intent to keep using this form of activism in his coming term through a rules change proposal to the disciplinary process in Indiana. Rokita claims the process is unfair and seeks to strike “political speech” and “political advocacy” as grounds for which the Disciplinary Committee can consider a grievance. Rokita proposes that any grievance seen as “politically motivated” be dismissed immediately by the Disciplinary Committee. That would clear the way for him to continue to levy attacks against those he disagrees with, such as healthcare providers like Dr. Bernard.

It’s important to note that although Rokita is a Republican and ran as a Republican, and he is certainly entitled to his own opinions on issues like abortion, his position as Attorney General is not to be an activist or attempt to influence policy in Indiana. He is the chief attorney in the state who is responsible for upholding our laws, counseling legislators, and representing state employees and agencies in litigation. He has been derelict in his duties to abstain from political activism and to represent state interests in litigation. When the Indiana Dept. of Health (IDOH) was sued for access to their pregnancy termination records by anti-abortion activists, Rokita refused to represent IDOH or its staff in court going so far as to publicly support the efforts of the anti-abortion activists in their legal pursuit. He agreed with them that pregnancy termination records are not medical records, but public records.

Attorneys General should not be engaging in any politically motivated speech or activism and Rokita’s desire to change the rules is a clear signal he intends to continue abusing his power as an elected official in his coming term.