Tippecanoe County Judge Superior Court 2
Superior Court 2 is one of seven courts of record in Tippecanoe County. It was established by the Indiana State Legislature in 1970. The Court is located on the Fourth Floor of the Tippecanoe County Courthouse. Along with Circuit Court and Superior Court, it hears major criminal cases (murders, Level 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 felonies), dissolution of marriage and family law matters, and a variety of plenary civil and tort cases. It also approves fee waiver requests in divorce actions, oversees the family counseling fund, and administers court reporter transcript claims.Alternating JudgesThe Judge of Superior Court 2 alternates with other judges in hearing emergency petitions. The Tippecanoe County Magistrate assists Superior Court 2 in conducting criminal initial hearings, bail settings and reviews, expungement petitions, and other matters as assigned. The Juvenile Magistrate assists in hearing some family related cases. The Tippecanoe County Title IV-D Commissioner assists the court in cases involving child support delinquency.
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Sarah M. Wyatt
(Rep)
Describe a time when you became aware of your own bias and/or a blind spot related to a case and what steps did you take to mitigate your bias or lack of awareness.
How will you balance being an independent judge and an elected official?
What ideas do you have to improve the court you would oversee?
What recommendations would you make to increase the security of court rooms and judges?
Education
University of Idaho College of Law - JD
Experience in Leadership and Management
Tippecanoe County Magistrate, 2021 - Present
One of the most important obligations of a judge is not just to be impartial but to actively examine whether one is actually impartial, and be honest when the answer is complicated. As a current judicial officer, I work hard to ensure that I am evaluating cases based only on the evidence presented in the courtroom rather than any assumptions that may be rooted in my own background and life experiences. I can't claim that I've eliminated every blind spot, but I can commit to a process of continuous reflection to ensure that parties appearing before me have a judge who is always working to see them clearly and fairly.
There is real tension between these two roles, and it doesn't end on election day. As an elected official, I remain accountable to the public through future elections, public scrutiny, and community relationships. When those pressures conflict with my obligation to follow the law, the Code of Judicial Conduct is clear. My judicial independence must take priority. The parties who appear before me deserve a judge who decides cases based solely on the law and the facts, regardless of who they are, how they vote, or what the political consequences might be. Voters should hold me accountable for one thing: having the integrity to follow the law every time, even when my ruling isn't the one they would prefer.
Judge Meyer has served this court with distinction for many years, and my first priority would be ensuring continuity and stability for the parties and attorneys who rely on this court every day. A court that functions well doesn't need to be reinvented — it needs experienced, steady leadership. I would step in with experience and a commitment to maintaining the high standards that have defined this court while also looking for opportunities to improve efficiency and access to justice.
Court security is something I take very seriously, and it requires continuous communication and cooperation between judges, court staff, county government, and the sheriff's department. Effective security also depends on not discussing specific vulnerabilities or strategies in a public forum when doing so could actually undermine the very safety we are trying to protect. I am committed to ensuring that our courtrooms are safe for the parties, attorneys, and staff who enter them every day, and I will continue to prioritize those efforts.
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