On Friday, November 21, 2025, the Indiana Supreme Court permanently banned Randolph County Superior Judge Dale Arnett from judicial service following a determination of judicial misconduct. The ruling mandates Arnett to resign from his position and prohibits him from serving as a judge in the future.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Judge Dale Arnett,” with case number 25S-JD-198.
The Supreme Court’s decision cited a “long pattern of mismanagement, delay, and dereliction of his judicial duties” as the primary reason for the ban. The allegations against Arnett included the dismissal of 10 criminal cases due to the judge’s inaction and delays. In one instance, a defendant was held for 227 days without an initial hearing. Furthermore, Arnett was accused of delaying a child exploitation trial for over a year by neglecting to schedule necessary hearings.
The court found that Arnett repeatedly failed to bring defendants before a judicial officer, make probable cause determinations upon arrest, conduct trials in accordance with Indiana Criminal Rules, and issue judgments, sentencing orders, and other orders in criminal and domestic cases. The court also determined that Arnett failed to accurately monitor court-ordered bond payments.
Arnett was elected as the Randolph County Superior Judge in 2020, and the charging documents indicate that the issues within his court began immediately after he assumed office on January 1, 2021.
The Indiana Supreme Court’s order requires Arnett to submit his resignation to Governor Mike Braun by November 26, 2025. Upon acceptance of his resignation, Arnett will be permanently ineligible to hold any judicial position.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
