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Friday, July 25, 2008

Ind. Courts - Selection of Judges in St. Joe County

The South Bend Tribune has an editorial today on its county's system for selecting judges:

There is strong evidence that St. Joseph County's system for selecting and retaining Superior Court judges is a sound one.

Beyond a reasonable doubt, this county has produced very high-quality judges who have performed admirably in the service of justice. We would stack St. Joseph County judges up against any in the state.

Here's how the system works: Attorneys who want to be judges submit their names to the St. Joseph Superior Court Judicial Nominating Commission. The bipartisan commission examines the candidates carefully and selects five from the field. Those names are submitted to Gov. Mitch Daniels, who then makes the appointment.

Only St. Joseph and Lake counties pick their Superior Count judges by this method. In the other 90 Indiana counties, all judges are elected in partisan races.

This fall, St. Joseph Superior Judge William T. Means will retire. The chairman of the nominating commission, Indiana Supreme Court Justice Frank Sullivan Jr., is hoping that pushing the issue a bit now will stimulate a good turnout of applicants to replace the eminent Judge Means. The deadline for applications is Aug. 29.

Good for Sullivan. The more strong candidates the commissioners have to choose from, the higher the certainty that a first-rate judge will be named to fill the opening on the Superior bench.

It is worth noting that one's political affiliation is not to be considered when the field is narrowed or when the final choice is made. The Indiana Code specifically bans both the governor and the commissioners from taking politics into account.

So, lawyers, if you have a hankering to be a judge, go for it. On the one hand, you would have some tough acts to follow. But on the other hand, it would be hard to find a better way to serve your fellow Hoosiers.

For background on the St. Joseph judges selection issue, and challenges to the merit selection of judges in St. Joe County, start with this ILB entry from May 23rd.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on July 25, 2008 10:25 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts