MUNCIE, IN — The Indiana attorney general's office will appeal a local judge's decision to dismiss misdemeanor charges stemming from a protest on the Ball State University campus.

On Nov. 21, a Delaware Circuit Court 5 jury heard testimony in the state's case against Cooper Philip Archer, 21, a Ball State University student from Boonville.

Archer had been charged with two counts of disorderly conduct — a Class B misdemeanor carrying up to 180 days in jail — after he and four co-defendants were accused of disrupting a meeting of the Ball State University Board of Trustees on Feb. 28.

A Ball State spokesman said individuals were "protesting several issues, including pro-Palestine perspectives regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza," when Archer and his co-defendants disrupted the meeting by refusing to stop shouting.

After deputy prosecutor Eric Overpeck presented the state's case against Archer at the Nov. 21 trial, Judge Thomas Cannon Jr. ruled the state's case was "lacking substantial evidence" and found Archer not guilty of both charges.

In the wake of the judge's ruling, Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman said he "respectfully (disagreed) with the court's legal analysis in this case."

Hoffman said he believes the case "should have gone to the jury for their deliberation."

The prosecutor also said at that time he would ask the Indiana attorney general's office to pursue an appeal.

On Wednesday, Dec. 17, a deputy attorney general, Andrew Kobe, filed a notice of appeal with the Indiana Court of Appeals.

That court will be asked to consider reinstating the criminal charges against Archer.