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Saturday, April 05, 2008
Ind. Courts - More on "Muncie judge calls it quits"
Updating this ILB entry from March 28th, Rick Yencer of the Muncie Star-Press reports:
Gov. Mitch Daniels will have the Republican nominee to consider when appointing a successor to Delaware Circuit Court 5 judge Wayne Lennington, whose resignation is effective May 15.Chris M. Teagle, 48, a first-time candidate, said Thursday that he planned to apply for the vacancy created by Lennington's decision to step down from the bench amid judicial misconduct and criminal investigations.
The Indiana Judicial Qualifications Commission had been investigating alleged conflicts between Lennington's financial interests and judicial decisions and agreed to end the review after Lennington resigned. A criminal investigation is still pending.
Daniels' office sent an e-mail to Delaware County lawyers last week, notifying them of the vacancy and setting an April 11 deadline for applications. The governor will try to fill the post before May 15, according to spokesman Jane Jankowski.The new judge's time on the bench could be brief given voters on Nov. 4 will elect a Circuit Court 5 judge to a six-year term.
Teagle, who has practiced law for 20 years, is unopposed for the Republican nomination, while the Circuit 5 race on the Democratic Party ticket is likely the most competitive of any of the three judicial races in 2008.
"This could give me a chance to show what I can do," said Teagle, who also served as a public defender and did some pro tem work for the late Judge A.J. Hall.
None of the Democrats seeking the nomination for Circuit 5 are applying for the temporary appointment.
"That should be filled by the election process," said attorney Tom Cannon Jr., a former juvenile referee.
Cannon also thought a senior judge might make more sense given the short term of the appointee.
Deputy Prosecutor Ron Henderson, another Democrat, said he would be amazed if anyone except the Republican nominee would be appointed.
Attorney Kim Dowling agreed with the idea of appointing a senior judge, saying the governor still had the authority to make the appointment.
Delaware Circuit Court 1 Judge Marianne Vorhees, the county's presiding judge, said the current process of other judges sharing Lennington's caseload would continue.
"If nobody is appointed by May 15, we would like a senior judge to cover the gap," she said.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on April 5, 2008 12:50 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts