Former Indiana AG Curtis Hill’s Trial Over Groping Allegations Dismissed

The civil trial against former Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill, stemming from allegations that he groped four women in 2018, was abruptly canceled on Sunday, just one day before jury selection was set to begin.

According to a court official, the case was dismissed after Hill and the plaintiffs reached an agreement. However, no details were provided about the nature of the agreement, including whether a settlement was reached. Jury selection for the trial was scheduled to begin Monday in front of Judge Patrick J. Dietrick.

The dismissal comes after Judge Dietrick recently denied the plaintiffs’ request to delay the trial. The case had been closely watched, as it stemmed from allegations made by a former state lawmaker and three former legislative staffers. They sued Hill in 2020 for battery, defamation, and false light invasion of privacy after a federal court dismissed an earlier lawsuit against him.

Hill has consistently denied the allegations, which first came to light following a 2018 investigation by The Indianapolis Star. The investigation detailed claims by four women who alleged Hill groped them during a post-legislative session gathering at an Indianapolis bar.

Despite his denials, Hill faced professional consequences. In 2020, the Indiana Supreme Court determined he violated professional rules of conduct and committed criminal battery. This led to a one-month suspension of his law license.

Hill, a Republican, served as Indiana’s attorney general from 2017 to 2021. The allegations and their fallout ultimately played a role in his loss of party support during his re-election bid, with Republicans opting to nominate Todd Rokita instead.

The sudden dismissal of the trial leaves questions unanswered, particularly regarding whether any resolution was reached between Hill and his accusers. Neither party has commented publicly on the matter.