John Broden

St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge John Broden ruled Thursday that Indiana statutes don't require a political candidate to be in good standing with their party, and that overruling the county election board in Republican Dan Schaetzle's case would be an abuse of the court's discretion.

St. Joseph Circuit Judge John Broden has ruled that the county election board acts as a state, rather than a county, entity, so someone appealing its ruling in court can still receive a fair trial in a county court.

Griffin Nate, communications director for Republican congressman Rudy Yakym, argues that the St. Joseph County Election Board and clerk's officer are biased against their case, so they it moved to Elkhart County for court review of the board's 3-0 vote to let Republican St. Joseph County Council member Dan Schaetzle run as a Republican in the May primary election.

St. Joseph Superior Judge Mark Telloyan, a former Republican county council member, agreed to take the case Wednesday but Redman's attorneys Friday filed a motion asking for someone else.

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita's immigration-related lawsuit against St. Joseph County Sheriff Bill Redman now goes to Superior Judge Mark Telloyan, after Circuit Judge John Broden removed himself to avoid an appearance of a conflict of interest that Broden didn't disclose.

Citing a potential conflict of interest that he doesn't disclose, St. Joseph County Circuit Judge John Broden has recused himself from Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita's immigration-related lawsuit against Sheriff Bill Redman.

Democratic former Monroe County Prosecutor Chris Gaal has been appointed special prosecutor to review allegations against Sharon McBride, and in another case, against county Republican Party Vice-Chair Marvin "Joe" Layne.

St. Joseph County commissioners say they and Indiana State Police have finished their year-long investigation into former DuComb Center director Sharon McBride, and it's now in the hands of a special prosecutor who officials wouldn't identify.