Judge of the Johnson Superior Court, No. 4
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 4 handles divorces, credit collection, mortgage foreclosure, civil tortes, civil plenary, and no criminal cases.
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Marla Clark
(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 have been a judicial officer in Johnson County for 21 years, hearing a wide variety of cases, first as the juvenile magistrate and then as a superior court judge. Prior to that, I spent 8 years working for the Indiana Court of Appeals, assisting a judge in deciding his cases. I also practiced civil litigation at the beginning of my career. I have decided thousands of cases involving marriage dissolutions, paternities, juvenile delinquency, juvenile dependency, and civil matters, such as vehicle accidents, property disputes, and consumer and business contracts.
My primary concern is deciding the controversy in front of me according to established legal principles. My cases have required me to develop a deep understanding of applicable Indiana law. I approach every case by ensuring that I have a firm grasp of the legal principles at issue. With that framework, I keep an open mind and listen to the evidence that the parties present. After I reflect on what I've heard and done my own research, I reach a decision. Particularly in family law cases, I also try to address the underlying problems the family is experiencing from the conflict by writing very specific orders or by referring them to outside providers, such as therapists. Lastly, I ensure that my decision is correct and fair.
I firmly believe in common courtesy and the value of all people. I work to ensure that every person that appears in Superior Court 4 feels heard, even if they don't prevail. I use appointment scheduling when possible to give litigants enough time to present all of the information they have without a line of litigants in other cases waiting to be heard. If someone chooses to represent themselves in court, I am not permitted to assist them, but I do listen carefully and ask questions so that I understand their perspective. I know that court processes are foreign to most people, so I explain the process and next steps in common sense language so that people know what to expect next. I also encourage questions from litigants.
I carefully track the new cases filed in my court and review them monthly. Some cases, by their nature, move very quickly, while other take much longer to resolve. I like to brainstorm with counsel about novel ideas to get stubborn cases resolved. Just as importantly, I spend part of every day resolving and closing those cases that can be disposed easily. Regardless, I always administer cases with due process in mind. Due process includes having a chance to be heard before a meaningful decision is made and having your case resolved efficiently. I have learned to balance these ideals through my experiences.
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