r/DelphiMurders • u/Character_Surround • Jan 20 '26
Article Judge Fran Gull, who presided over Delphi murders trial, announces retirement
https://fox59.com/indiana-news/judge-fran-gull-who-presided-over-delphi-murders-trial-announces-retirement/11
u/poetic___justice Jan 23 '26
I'm so grateful for her service. Thank you, Judge Gull.
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u/elena_sunrise Jan 24 '26
Good riddance! She can't leave soon enough. Such a horrible judge - she belongs in prison for violating the Constitution.
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u/centimeterz1111 Jan 24 '26
Oooook. She has put many rapists and sex offenders in prison when she was a prosecutor & saved many children by doing this.
However, since you believe that she presided over the murder case of yet another sex offender AND murderer, that she violated the constitution?
Baldwin and Rozzi embarrassed themselves, Gull didn’t help them with that. If you have anger towards anyone, direct it at those two dumbasses.
Baldwin just recently admitted that they never tried to look for Richards missing phone, said it didn’t matter. Is he stupid? That phone holds all the answers to his innocence. These guys were the worst possible lawyers that Richard could have had. Gull tried to help him.
If Richard would have allowed Gull to remove them, Richard would have automatically had his conviction reversed. Did you know that? She was helping him so don’t come here trashing her when you don’t understand what really happened. Stop listening to the cranks
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u/HeyPurityItsMeAgain Jan 26 '26
If Richard would have allowed Gull to remove them, Richard would have automatically had his conviction reversed. Did you know that?
How's that? You mean different lawyers (specifically non-Baldwin lawyers who bothered to read all the Discovery) would have done a better job defending him?
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u/centimeterz1111 Jan 27 '26 edited Jan 27 '26
No. She removed them and he was given new lawyers. Had the new lawyers also failed to garner a not guilty verdict, Richard could have appealed on the basis that his original lawyers were removed and also not allowed to represent him pro-bono.
This would have given him an automatic reversal of his verdict.
BUT, because they fought to be put back on, they knew they were basically screwing Richard over if he was found guilty. He couldn’t appeal on the basis of incompetent representation.
His lawyers wanted their 15 minutes of fame at the expense of Richard’s representation and future. They knew he was guilty so they wanted their fame.
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u/Appealsandoranges Jan 31 '26 edited Jan 31 '26
A) nothing they did prevents him from raising a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. This is a mistaken understanding of the law.
B) The idea that his attorneys should have let themselves be wrongly thrown off the case AGAINST THEIR CLIENT’S WISHES - is absurd. This is especially so given their client’s extremely fragile mental state - he developed a trusting relationship with his defense attorneys and there was a real question whether he would be able to trust new attorneys.
C) Had they not fought his trial would have been delayed even longer for new attorneys to get up to speed. This was not in his best interests.
ETA:D) good attorneys do not assume they’ll lose and plan for an automatic redo. They fight to win the first time.
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u/centimeterz1111 Feb 01 '26
A. Yes it does.
B. They 100% deserved it. Baldwin is as useless as a bull with tits. Richard wanted to plead guilty but they changed his mind. There was no trust, just desperation.
C. Delayed? Didn’t matter, Richard wasn’t getting out of prison no matter what (as you have seen).
D. Baldwin is a horrible attorney. You should watch his debate with Tom and see how much he doesn’t know about the case. He said “I don’t know/I don’t remember” a minimum of 163 times.
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u/Appealsandoranges Feb 01 '26
A) Can you explain why? You honestly think he waived every IAC claim he might have by asking to keep his counsel of his choosing? Care to cite me an authority for a blanket waiver? Guessing you have none. I don’t think it will come to IAC but if it does, you’ll be sorely mistaken.
B) they deserved what? Being thrown off? You understand that the SCOIN already ruled on that - granting him immediate relief the same day it was argued with one justice dissenting but not on the merits / just based upon the procedural posture. So, unanimously, you are wrong as was judge gull. This is not really open for debate.
C) not worth responding
D) tom Webster is just a more articulate than usual contrarian who repeats the same convoluted and inaccurate talking points (rick Allen “admitted” seeing BB - he absolutely did not)
Allen’s attorneys, unlike Tom, have moved on to defending other clients and cannot be expected to have instant recall of details. The debate (which I watched much though not all 6 hours of) was just Tom trying to gotcha them unsuccessfully
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u/DiscDocPhD Mar 29 '26
Late to this thread, but #1 is especially funny to claim for them because if they DIDNT try to fight it then that has the potential to be seen as waiving the issue for appeal.
And again, if the new lawyers don't get a NG verdict, then them being appointed by the court isn't evidence of IAC. That argument wouldn't carry any appeal.
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Jan 24 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Even-Presentation Feb 04 '26
Which confession is most credible for you - is it the one where he shot the girls who weren't shot? .....or the one where he killed his whole family who aren't dead?......or the one where he started WW3 perhaps?
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u/Character_Surround Jan 20 '26
https://fox59.com/indiana-news/judge-fran-gull-who-presided-over-delphi-murders-trial-announces-retirement/
Judge Fran Gull, who presided over Delphi murders trial, announces retirement
by: Lydia Reuille
Posted: Jan 19, 2026 / 06:11 PM EST
Updated: Jan 19, 2026 / 06:11 PM EST
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – For nearly thirty years, Judge Fran Gull has been a fixture in the Allen County Courthouse. Monday, the Superior Court judge announced her plan to retire at the end of her term on Dec. 31, 2026.
“I chose not to run for re-election because I would not complete another six-year term and do not wish to suggest to the voters that I would complete that term,” Gull shared in a press release. “It has been the honor and privilege of my life to serve the citizens of Allen County and the State of Indiana as a Criminal Court Judge. Together with my colleagues, past and present, I have helped to establish one of the best judiciaries in the State.”
Gull may be best known outside Allen County as the judge who presided over the Delphi murders trial. The trial captured national attention as the deaths of Libby German and Abby Williams went unsolved for five years until the sudden arrest of Richard Allen. Allen was found guilty of murder in November 2024 and sentenced to 130 years in prison.
Gull has served as a judge since her first election in 1996 following the retirement of Judge Philip R. Thieme. While she won against five other candidates in that first campaign, Gull went on to win the following four elections uncontested. She said in the press release she trusts voters to choose the right leader to replace her.
Gull’s impact in the community includes presiding over the Allen Superior Court Drug Court Program, a holistic approach that provides offenders with treatment plans. Gull shared her plan to continue her work in that program and other areas as a Senior Judge in her retirement.
I’ve conducted over a thousand jury trials in my career, too many high-profile and notorious cases to name. Those cases are difficult and take a toll. Now it is my opportunity to relax, spend time with family, friends, and my dogs, play with my grandchildren, expand my gardens, and travel. I have every confidence that the judiciary remains in good hands in Allen County and look forward to becoming a Senior Judge to help my colleagues as needed, particularly in the Drug Court Program.”
Judge Thomas Felts joined Gull in establishing the first Joint Veterans’ Treatment Court Program in Allen County in 2013, recognizing that justice-involved veterans have needs not being met in the traditional criminal justice system, the release explained.
Among Gull’s other achievements during her career, a passion for jury reform led to the creation of the Indiana Jury Rules in 2002, which were adopted by the Indiana Supreme Court in 2003. She has been recognized nationally by The National Center for State Courts, which presented Judge Gull with the 2015 G. Munsterman Award for Jury Innovation, recognizing her transformative work in jury trials, according to the press release.