Rex Kepner Admonished Retired

Rex Kepner, then a Benton County, Indiana Circuit Court judge, was publicly admonished by the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications over an October 2020 small-claims hearing in which he personally loaned $1,000 in cash to a defendant, McKenzie Griffith, who was behind on payments toward a money judgment. According to the Commission's findings, Kepner asked the plaintiff how much it would take to settle the judgment that day, then retreated to his chambers and directed his court reporter to hand the defendant that amount -- money the court reporter explained was a loan from the judge himself. The Commission found Kepner's conduct "went beyond a judge's ethical authority to encourage a settlement" and tarnished the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary. It acknowledged Kepner had no improper motive and was merely trying to help a struggling community member, and noted he cooperated fully with the investigation. The Commission concluded formal disciplinary charges were warranted but agreed to resolve the matter with a public admonition instead. Kepner is now the Benton County prosecutor.