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Sunday, February 11, 2007
Ind. Courts - Time flies on the bench, according to new Elkhart judge
Rod Rowe of the Goshen News writes today:
There have been minor changes and upgrades, but 2006 was a fast year for one of Elkhart County’s newest judges.Elkhart Superior Court 1 Judge Evan Roberts, Nappanee, commented on his first year on the bench after a recent afternoon of criminal hearings in the Elkhart County Courts Building.
“It’s unbelievable. It has gone by amazingly fast,” he said of his first year. “I am still totally honored every day to come to this job. It is a privilege and honor to be here.”
Judge Roberts, who has practiced law 17 years, was named by Gov. Mitch Daniels 14 months ago to fill out the unexpired term of Judge Ben Pfaff, after he was removed from the bench. * * *
The schedule calls for divorce cases to be heard in Superior Court 1 on Monday mornings and criminal cases in the afternoon. And in nearby Superior Court 2, Judge Steve Bowers handles criminal cases in the morning and divorce cases in the afternoon.
The system was inherited by Judges Roberts and Bowers, as it was set up by their predecessors.
“We’ve made progress here,” Roberts explained this week. A new digital recording backup system was installed in Superior Courts 1 and 5 and in the magistrate’s courtroom, he explained, at a cost of $47,000.
Superior Court 1 was repainted and 30-year-old furniture was replaced, he said.
And the lawyer’s lounge in the courts building was upgraded with new furnishings, two computers and a printer for use by lawyers. Roberts said five attorneys helped paint the room, too.
The judge explained he hopes attorneys spend more time in the room, and eventually work on cases as they spend time there. He cited the work that is accomplished by attorneys who visit the bailiff’s office/lawyers’ lounge in the Goshen courthouse.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 11, 2007 11:19 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts