Attorney General Todd Rokita launches inquiry into Notre Dame’s DEI policies

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has issued a letter to the University of Notre Dame concerning the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and practices, which potentially violate federal and state civil rights laws and the terms of the university’s nonprofit status. 

Publicly available materials, including the university’s 2033 Strategic Framework, suggest that Notre Dame may treat students, prospective students, faculty, staff, and job applicants differently based on race or ethnicity; employ race in a negative manner when making admissions or hiring decisions; or utilize racial stereotyping.

Racial discrimination of any kind in educational settings violates fundamental moral and legal principles that are enshrined in state law. Attorney General Rokita said nonprofit universities that flout those principles and pursue race-based DEI initiatives may jeopardize their nonprofit status.  

“Indiana will not tolerate racial discrimination in education under the guise of DEI,” said Attorney General Todd Rokita. “Fairness demands that every individual be judged on their merits, not the color of their skin. Notre Dame’s DEI policies raise troubling questions about whether, in its pursuit of DEI goals, the university may be crossing the clear line that Indiana law draws against racial discrimination. I am seeking answers.”

Notre Dame's 2033 Strategic Framework describes various race-conscious DEI initiatives that it pursues. The Framework highlights efforts to increase “underrepresented” student and faculty numbers and track enrollment in classes taught by faculty who “look like” underrepresented students.

Notre Dame’s website also suggests that the university may host racially segregated “multicultural recognition ceremonies” for graduates. These practices and others present serious questions about whether Notre Dame is in compliance with civil rights laws and the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, in which the Court held that race-based admissions practices in higher education are unlawful.

Attorney General Rokita’s letter explains that racial discrimination by any university cannot be squared with the public or charitable purposes that a nonprofit like Notre Dame is supposed to serve.

The letter requests information from Notre Dame about its admissions and hiring practices, including details about any changes they made to its practices following the Students for Fair Admissions decision and documents showing what guidance it provides to faculty and admissions staff regarding its DEI goals. The letter also asks Notre Dame to explain whether and how race plays a role in its efforts to recruit, hire, and enroll members of “underrepresented” groups. 

Attorney General Rokita said Notre Dame’s responses to his office’s inquiry will help determine whether further action is warranted to ensure it is operating consistently with the terms of its nonprofit status and Indiana’s commitment to racial equality.

The letter instructs Notre Dame to respond by June 9, 2025.

Read the full letter here.  

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Following infant’s tragic death, Attorney General Todd Rokita and team make sure woman’s conviction stands

Defendant with history of drug abuse violated court order barring her from being alone with newborn 

A 29-year-old Evansville woman with a drug-abuse history who rolled over in bed atop her infant son, asphyxiating him to death, will remain behind bars following successful arguments by Attorney General Todd Rokita’s appeals team to uphold her conviction on neglect charges. 

At the time of the tragic incident on June 8, 2022, Taylor Smith was in violation of a court order forbidding her to be alone with the 12-day-old child. She also rejected the advice of child welfare officials that she refrain from co-sleeping with the child, especially when under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  

Smith is serving a 30-year prison sentence on the neglect and drugs charges. 

“Because of this woman’s fateful decisions, a precious newborn child lost his life,” Attorney General Rokita said. “I’m proud of our team for ensuring she is held to account for her actions, and we can only hope that stories like this one will deter other parents and would-be parents from similar missteps.” 

The child’s father also pleaded guilty to neglect charges. 

Attorney General Rokita thanked Deputy Attorney General Tyler Banks for his work on this case. He also thanked Appeals Division Chief Counsel Angela Sanchez and Criminal Appeals Section Chief Andrew Kobe. 

The appellate court decision is attached here. 

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‘Indiana hires and promotes based on merit,’ says Attorney General Todd Rokita following litigation team’s win in federal court

After a federal jury trial cleared the State of Indiana of racial discrimination charges brought by a state employee, Attorney General Todd Rokita praised the work of his litigation team. 

“Indiana hires and promotes based on merit,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Kudos to our team for making that fact abundantly clear throughout the course of this four-year legal battle and two-day jury trial.” 

The plaintiff, an employee of the State of Indiana Office of Technology, filed suit alleging that IOT failed to promote him because of his race. The employee, who is Black, applied for a new position with the agency in May of 2019. The position had already been offered in April, however, to another employee, who is white. 

“The chain of events showed clearly that IOT supervisors did not pass over the plaintiff because of his race,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Rather, even before the plaintiff applied, IOT supervisors carefully evaluated the distinct attributes of staff members to achieve the best possible match for the open position.” 

Attorney General Rokita specifically thanked Deputy Attorneys General Brandyn Arnold, Gustavo Jimenez and Jake Zurschmiede — along with their supervisors, Chief Counsel of Litigation Patricia Erdmann and Section Chief of Government Litigation Adrienne Pope. 

The team’s work in this case produced an estimated savings to the state of $200,000 in damages, fees and costs. 

Through successful trial advocacy, motion practice and negotiations, the litigation team’s work during Attorney General Rokita’s administration has saved Hoosier taxpayers millions. 

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Broker accused of defrauding Hoosier investors would lose license under action taken by Attorney General Todd Rokita

Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed a 29-count administrative complaint against the real estate broker license of Avon resident, Jeremy Tucker, who is alleged to have used at least 27 unauthorized signatures on mortgages and promissory notes in furtherance of a scheme to defraud investors of millions of dollars. 

Jeremy Tucker falsified documents, overleveraged dilapidated properties and exploited his status as a licensed broker to gain investors’ trust, the complaint alleges. Attorney General Rokita’s office is seeking permanent revocation of Mr. Tucker’s license.   

“We want to root out this kind of fraudulent misconduct wherever it occurs, and we want to hold perpetrators accountable,” Attorney General Rokita said. “It’s all part of our mission of protecting Hoosiers and upholding the rule of law.” 

Attorney General Rokita thanked his team for their work on this case. 

“This action represents great collaborative work from two sections within our Consumer Protection Division,” he said. “Staff from Professional Licensing Enforcement and their colleagues in the Homeowner Protection Unit have demonstrated the great value of teamwork in the arena of public service.” 

Jeremy Tucker and related companies and individuals are defendants in at least two dozen civil cases filed throughout the State of Indiana in which investors claim that they were not paid back on their notes or that they were otherwise defrauded by Mr. Tucker’s property flipping scheme. Investors and businesses - like consumers - can be taken advantage of in fraudulent, unfair or abusive transactions.   

Hoosiers are encouraged to contact the Office of the Indiana Attorney General about any suspected scams or scam attempts. Consumers can file a complaint by visiting indianaconsumer.com or calling 1-800-382-5516. 

The licensing complaint is attached here. 

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‘Deplorable conditions’ at La Porte mobile home park leads to lawsuit by Attorney General Todd Rokita

Residents forced to bathe in and drink brown and yellow water — or else rely on store-bought supplies

Decrying a landlord’s alleged neglect of a La Porte mobile home park and the residents who lived there, Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed a civil lawsuit against Deerfield Estates MHP LLC, the owner and operator of Deerfield Estates Mobile Home Park. 

The lawsuit alleges that the defendant failed to meet basic habitability standards and violated the Indiana Deceptive Consumer Sales Act (DCSA).  

“Hoosiers deserve safe and livable housing, plain and simple,” Attorney General Rokita said. “The deplorable conditions at Deerfield Estates — dirty water, low pressure, extended shutoffs, and a lack of proper oversight — are unacceptable.” 

The lawsuit, filed in state court in the La Porte County Circuit/Superior Court, seeks restitution, civil penalties and costs on behalf of affected residents who have endured substandard living conditions due to the defendant’s alleged negligence. 

“My office will not stand by while vulnerable residents, including seniors, are exploited by landlords who shirk their legal responsibilities,” Attorney General Rokita said. “We are holding Deerfield Estates accountable and fighting to protect the rights of Indiana families.” 

The complaint alleges that Deerfield Estates failed to comply with multiple state laws, including: 

• Indiana Code § 32-31-8-5(4)(B), requiring landlords to maintain plumbing systems providing a reasonable supply of hot and cold running water at all times. 

• Indiana Code § 16-41-27-9, mandating the presence of an adult attendant or caretaker at the mobile home community. 

• Indiana Code § 16-41-27-10, requiring an adequate water supply, either through a public system or an approved alternative. 

Residents have reported severe issues, including yellow or brown water discoloring clothing, prolonged water shutoffs (including a 29-day boil advisory), flooding from leaks, and inadequate communication about service disruptions. 

The lawsuit further claims that Deerfield Estates improperly billed residents for water leaks it was legally obligated to repair, using an unfair Ratio Utility Billing System (RUBS) that does not reflect actual usage. 

In addition, the park operated for months without a designated caretaker, leaving residents without a point of contact for maintenance or billing concerns. This lack of oversight exacerbated the water quality and supply problems, forcing residents to purchase bottled water for cooking and bathing. 

Acting in the public interest, the Attorney General’s Homeowner Protection Unit seeks: 

• Injunctive relief ordering the owner to repair the water lines and to refrain from disconnecting residents from water access. 

• Restitution to impacted consumers. 

• Treble damages for senior consumers affected by these violations. 

• Civil penalties of up to $5,000 per knowing violation of the DCSA. 

• Reimbursement of investigation and prosecution costs. 

“This is about justice for Hoosiers who have been let down by a landlord prioritizing profits over people,” Attorney General Rokita said. “We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to ensure accountability and protect Indiana’s consumers.” 

Hoosiers are encouraged to contact the Office of the Indiana Attorney General about any suspected scams or scam attempts. Consumers can file a complaint by visiting indianaconsumer.com or calling 1-800-382-5516.  

The lawsuit is attached here. 

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Robocall Reckoner Rokita secures $600K court order from robocall scoundrel

Attorney General Todd Rokita and seven states triumph in fight against illegal robocall scam

Attorney General Todd Rokita along with Arkansas, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio and Texas won a court ruling permanently barring robocall scammer John Spiller from operating in the telecommunications industry and ordering him to pay more than $600,000 in costs and attorneys’ fees for violating a 2023 court order. Spiller owned and operated several voice service providers that initiated and facilitated billions of robocalls, including to people whose numbers were on the Do Not Call Registry. 

“This ruling is a significant victory in our fight to protect Hoosiers from the scourge of illegal robocalls,” Attorney General Rokita said. “These deceptive practices disrupt lives and erode trust in our communication systems. Our office, alongside our partner states, remains committed to holding violators accountable and ensuring justice for our citizens.” 

Since January of 2021, Attorney General Rokita’s office has secured over $200 Million in penalties against illegal and annoying robocallers.  

The various illegal robocalling operations that were put out of business were responsible for facilitating billions of robocalls across the United States. Not only did our office put these operations out of business, several injunctive terms were put into place to keep the violators and their companies out of the industry, such as: permanent ban on robocalls, permanent ban on telemarketing, prohibitions on vacating various federal and state laws, network monitoring, and the screening of current and prospective customers, just to name a few. 

Spiller’s companies included Rising Eagle Capital Group LLC, Rising Eagle Capital Group–Cayman, JSquared Telecom LLC and more.  

The court order bars Spiller from starting any other telecommunications companies, permanently bans him from working with certain individuals who helped him engage in this violative conduct, bans him from further making any deceptive representations using aliases in government filings, and requires that he pay over $600,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs to the states who joined in the litigation against him.  

The plaintiff states’ efforts were supported by detailed calculations based on the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) Attorney’s Fees Matrix, ensuring fair and transparent accounting of the legal resources expended. 

Read the judge’s order here.

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Attorney General Todd Rokita issues statement on Benjamin Ritchie’s execution

Indiana upholds commitment to protecting those who protect us

Attorney General Todd Rokita today issued the following statement: 
 
"Early this morning, justice was served with the execution of Benjamin Ritchie, who was convicted of the heinous murder of Beech Grove Police Officer William Toney on September 29, 2000.  

“Today’s action ensures that justice was done to honor Officer Toney’s sacrifice for his community. With the Indiana Supreme Court’s decision to set his execution date and the state’s resolve to carry it out, we have reaffirmed our commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting our communities. Let this serve as a message to those who would harm our men and women in law enforcement.” 

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