Judge Amy Jorgensen, standing; Mayor Tom McDermott, seated.
Hammond's Judge Jorgensen wants in on decision making or else...
Contributed By:The 411 News
Threatens lawsuit against mayor, city council, and clerk
Like the Democrats left out of decision making in the nation’s capitol, Republican Amy Jorgensen feels beleaguered as the judge of the City Court in Hammond, a Democratic Party stronghold.
Returning to the city council chambers for her first time after council members voted to close the city court, Judge Jorgensen was asked at the July 24th council meeting to explain a $5,000 court expenditure and the draft of a legal complaint against the city council, city clerk and mayor.
By a 6-3 vote in January 2017, the city council voted to abolish the city court, citing yearly costs to operate the court and upcoming shortfalls to the city’s budget. In November 2016, Jorgensen was appointed by then Gov. Mike Pence, a Republican, to complete the term of Hammond City Court Judge Jeff Harkin, who died in office in April 2016.
Angered by Pence’s move, Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott, a Democrat, criticized Jorgensen for lack of professional experience and for not being a Hammond resident. Jorgensen lives in St. John. McDermott had said in an interview, “She will get no respect from me as mayor.”
City councilman David Woerpel, sponsor of the ordinance abolishing the court, questioned the judge. “Can you clarify what this payment of $5,000 to the law firm Ice Miller is for and can you go on record and say you have no intention of suing the council?”
“The $5,000 payment is for legaI services Ice Miller is providing the court,” the judge said, “not for litigation costs.” Ice Miller, Jorgensen said, is advising the court on how to wind down the cases by the time the court closes at the end of 2018. The law firm will be paid a total of $15,000 until then to provide advice, she said, including the $5,000 first installment.
Although the court, council, and mayor share the second floor of City Hall, Judge Jorgensen said she made a series of attempts to meet with the administration about decommissioning of the court and transfer of cases; they were unsuccessful.
“Hammond City Clerk Robert Golec and the mayor moved cases to the county court, which they had no right to do without my participation,” Jorgensen said. “The purpose of the draft complaint is after making multiple attempts to meet with the mayor, I couldn’t get anyone to communicate with me.”
“Is this a bluff… a threat?” councilman Woerpel asked.
“Well it worked, I’m standing here,” the judge replied.
Now the judge awaits whether the city council will approve the $5,000 payment and if the administration will meet with her.
Story Posted:08/04/2017
|
