MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) – A state commission is seeking the immediate suspension of the Muncie city court judge who faces disciplinary charges including abuse of judicial power.

The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications asked Monday for the state Supreme Court to suspend Judge Dianna Bennington with pay.

The commission's request says that Bennington has been on a voluntary leave of absence since late September but hasn't responded to the commission's subpoenas or communicated with other Delaware County judges about whether she intends on returning to the bench.

The Associated Press left a telephone message with the city court office seeking comment from Bennington.

The judicial commission filed 13 disciplinary charges against Bennington. Those include that she had public confrontations with the father of her children and referred to his girlfriend with a racial slur.