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Thursday, January 20, 2011

Ind. Courts - "Lake commissioners favor bill to appoint judges: 'It takes some of the politics out of the courts'"

Chelsea Schneider Kirk reports today in the Gary Post Tribune:

The Lake County Board of Commissioners voted Wednesday to support legislation that allows for the appointment of the four judges presiding over the county division of Lake Superior Court.

County Commissioner Fran DuPey, D-Hammond, abstained from the vote, citing her concerns over merit selection of judges.

The state Senate bill for judicial appointments is being carried by Sen. Sue Landske, R-Cedar Lake, and Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Portage. Currently, the county division judges are elected by voters every six years.

Under the bill, a judicial commission would nominate the judges for the governor to appoint. Lake County voters would then decide whether to retain the judges every six years. The legislation doesn't impact the elected position of Circuit Court judge, now held by George Paras.

"It takes some politics out of the courts," County Commissioner Roosevelt Allen, D-Gary, said, "and makes them more neutral."

Commissioners attorney John Dull said the bill might result in cost savings because the probation departments of the county division could be integrated with the rest of the superior courts. Currently, ethical rules stop the two from mixing, Dull said.

The bill is Senate Bill 499.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on January 20, 2011 01:30 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts