A Hamilton County Superior Court Judge in Indiana is an elected official (6-year term) responsible for presiding over criminal and civil cases, interpreting the law, and managing courtroom proceedings. They ensure fair trials, sentence convicted offenders, and manage case flow, often prioritizing efficiency, public safety, and specialized dockets like mental health courts. Core Responsibilities:Adjudication: Preside over hearings, trials, and motions, applying state statutes to reach impartial decisions.Criminal Cases: Manage criminal dockets, accept pleas, and sentence offenders.Civil Cases: Rule on legal challenges and disputes.Court Administration: Manage caseloads, oversee staff (in coordination with court administration), and follow local rules.Judicial Leadership: Some judges take on administrative roles, such as calling meetings (at least quarterly), managing case assignment, and directing court departments. Qualifications:Licensure: Must be admitted to practice law in Indiana and in good standing with the Indiana Supreme Court.Residency: Must be a resident of Hamilton County.Experience: Often requires significant legal experience (e.g., 5+ years).Mandatory Age: Must be under 75. Salary: $150,311 from the state plus $5000 from the county
Candidate Statement
I am principled, practical and prepared to begin a brand new court here in Hamilton County.
Education
IU McKinney School of Law
Occupational background
Attorney and Current Magistrate
Campaign Phone (public)
3175651818
The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission sets forth the procedure and rules for disciplining both attorneys and judges. The process for making a complaint is easily accessible and those complaints are reviewed on a case by case basis. I feel that the process is accessible, thorough and sufficient.
We are fortunate to have separation of our government, i.e. legislative, judiciary and executive branches, at the local and federal level. The judiciary does not make the law, it interprets it and applies it to the facts of each case. I am a current judicial officer in cases in which I must apply Indiana’s sentencing guidelines, therefore pursuant to the Indiana Code of Judicial Conduct, I cannot comment on my opinion about the guidelines.
The most important issue facing our judiciary is the increase of cases into the judicial system. As our population increases it means more family law cases, more criminal cases, more small claims, more juvenile proceedings, more business litigation and so on. As such, our community needs and deserves judicial officers who have experience in those wide variety of legal areas, have the managerial and personnel experience necessary to hire staff to start a new Court and have the wherewithal to follow the law, uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Indiana State Constitution.
I bring over 22 years of legal experience along with over a decade of personal business ownership and an IU Kelley School business management degree to the bench. My personal and professional experience, both as a previous business owner, and also representing businesses in my legal practice provide me with a unique background and skills to start a brand new Court. In addition to my business experience, my private practice for the 7 years prior to me taking the bench was primarily focused in Hamilton County helping Hamilton County residents in family law, probate, and as a public defender in our Title IVD Court. By the time Court 8 hears its first case I will have over a year of experience as a Magistrate Judge (selected by the currently elected judges) hearing and deciding the types of cases that will likely be heard in Court 8. I possess all of the skills required to effectively and efficiently set up Hamilton Superior Court 8 to serve our community at the highest level.
Candidate Statement
I believe my knowledge and experience makes me uniquely qualified to be the first Judge of Hamilton County Superior Court 8.
Education
Bachelors from University of Evansville, Juris Doctor from IU McKinney School of Law, LLM from University College Cork
Occupational background
Lawyer
Political Office(s) Held in the Past
None
Campaign Phone (public)
317-721-9235
I think Indiana has a strong foundation for holding judges accountable, particularly through the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications and the role of the Indiana Supreme Court in ultimately imposing discipline. That structure is important because it protects both due process and judicial independence.
That said, I think these is room for improvement. From a public-facing perspective, one major gap is transparency. Much of the process remains confidential unless formal charges are filed, which can make it hard for the public to fully understand how accountability is being handled. There’s also a perception issue when the judiciary is responsible for disciplining itself, even if the process is fair in practice.
Accountability systems are most effective when they are not only fair, but also understood and trusted by the people they serve. Overall, the current system provides important safeguards, but strengthening transparency and public confidence would make it more effective
I would recommend continuing to give trial court judges as much discretion as possible to make decisions that fit individual circumstances while balancing the obvious need to be fair and consistent. A thorough review of how sentences have been handed out in the recent past should be conducted to ensure that decisions are not having a disparate impact on people of color, individuals with less resources, etc. The aim of justice should always be to restore victims whenever possible while also holding those found guilty accountable, but measures should have a rehabilitative effect as opposed to purely punitive.
I think the most important issue facing the judicial system in Hamilton County is the strain caused by rapid population growth and increasing caseloads. The county has been identified as needing more judges than it currently has, which is why Superior Courts 8 and 9 have been added by the Legislature. The current scenario, where there are fewer Courts than needed, impacts not just courtroom operations, but also public trust and access to justice. Addressing this—through adding judicial resources, improving efficiency, and possibly expanding alternative dispute resolution—would have the biggest overall impact on the system. I am also a strong advocate of creating more problem solving Courts, i.e. Veteran Courts or "drug courts" to address specific issues that come up frequently in court cases.
I believe what makes me a strong candidate is my combination of leadership experience, organizational skills, and commitment to public service—especially in the context of helping establish a new court.
This role involves building systems and processes from the ground up, and in my previous role as an Executive Director of a nonprofit, I’ve done exactly that. I managed staff, oversaw budgets, and ensured that operations ran efficiently while staying accountable to the community we served. That experience taught me how to balance big-picture planning with attention to detail, which is critical when creating a new office or court.
I also bring strong judgment and a steady, professional approach. I understand that the work of this court will directly impact people’s lives, and I take that responsibility seriously. I would approach this role with the goal of helping build a court that is efficient, fair, and responsive to the needs of the community from day one.
