conflict of interest

St. Joseph County Prosecutor Ken Cotter says most child support hearings before Magistrate Aric Rutkowski involving Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Sarah Troyer were uncontested but some required him to make decisions. For those cases, Cotter is offering to join non-custodial parents who want Rutkowski's decisions reviewed by a new judge or magistrate.

St. Joseph County Probate Judge Loris Zappia on Monday announced that Magistrate Aric Rutkowski has resigned after admitting he had a romantic relationship with a deputy prosecuting attorney who handles child support enforcement cases. The court is advising parents who had support cases in 2021 and 2022 before Rutkowski to seek an attorney's advice.

Citizen Brian Collier's lawsuit to remove Sharon McBride from the South Bend Common Council has gone through six judges and still doesn't have one to begin the case.