Judge of the Johnson Superior Court, No. 3
A Superior Court judge presides over a trial court. The judge is responsible for ensuring that court proceedings follow the law, overseeing trials and hearings, ruling on motions, and issuing decisions based on the evidence and applicable law. In Johnson County, Superior Court 3 handles only criminal cases.
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Douglas Brian Cummins
(Rep)
What professional experiences and legal background have prepared you to serve as a Superior Court judge?
How would you describe your judicial philosophy, and how does it guide your approach to interpreting and applying the law?
What steps would you take to ensure that all individuals appearing before your court are treated fairly and respectfully?
How would you work to ensure cases are handled efficiently while maintaining fairness and due process for everyone involved?
I received an Associate's Degree in Russian Studies from the Community College of the Air Force, a Bachelor's Degree in Business, and a Juris Doctorate from Indiana University, Indianapolis. I clerked for the Honorable Judge Cynthia Emkes while in law school. I started at the Johnson County Prosecutor's Office during my last semester in law school and worked as a Deputy Prosecutor, specializing in Domestic Violence, Crimes Against Children, and Sex Crimes, for 7 years. I left the prosecutor's office for private practice and operated my own private firm until being selected as the Johnson County Magistrate. I served in that position for 7 years until I was appointed to Superior Court #3 by Governor Holcomb in 2022.
My judicial philosophy starts with community safety. It is a question of how do we keep our community safe? Sometimes that answer is incarceration, sometimes it's a problem-solving court where we can help people get the intervention they need to keep themselves out of the criminal justice system, and sometimes it is something in between or a combination of options. The goal is to get people out of the system, back to leading productive lives (when able), and to reduce recidivism to lower the crime rate. As for my approach to interpreting and applying the law at the trial court level, my job is to apply the law as written. I do not change the law; that is the legislature's job. I apply the law as it exists.
I think this is a more personal response. I view every individual as unique with an inherent worth. This approach reminds me that every individual who appears before the court deserves fairness and respect. As a judge, one of my primary duties is to protect the due process rights of individuals who appear before the court and to ensure they receive a fair trial (if that is the route they choose).
I run a very high-volume criminal court. We are one of the busiest courts in the state. Fairness and due process are part and parcel of my job duties; it is my responsibility to ensure that defendants are treated fairly throughout the process. This approach to fairness begins with the understanding that, regardless of the charge, each Defendant is presumed innocent. It is the State's burden, not the Court's, to prove the Defendant is guilty. The Court does so by following the guidance issued by our legislature, the appellate and Supreme Courts of Indiana, and the United States. We keep our docket moving as quickly as possible by resetting cases as soon as they can be resolved, including resets within 2-3 days when necessary.
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