15 apply for Court of Appeals opening

Six trial court judges, seven attorneys, one state senator, and the head of the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council are vying for a seat on the state's second-highest appellate court.

Fifteen applicants put their names in by the Thursday deadline for an Indiana Court of Appeals opening that is being created by Judge John T. Sharpnack's retirement in May.

The applicants are:

· William W. Barrett, Williams Hewitt Barrett & Wilkowski, Greenwood

· Hon. Elaine B. Brown, Dubois Superior Court

· Hon. Christopher L. Burnham, Morgan Superior Court 2

· Kit C. Dean Crane, Henry County prosecutor

· Hon. Jane Spencer Craney, Morgan Superior Court 3

· Richard R. Fox, Law Offices of Richard R. Fox, New Albany

· Stephen J. Johnson, executive director, Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council

· Jeffrey B. Kolb, Emison Doolittle Kolb & Roellgen, Vincennes

· Hon. Rebecca S. McClure, Boone Superior Court 2

· Daniel R. Miller, Evansville attorney

· William H. Mullis, Law Office of William H. Mullis, Mitchell

· Leslie C. Shively, Shively & Associates, Evansville

· Hon. P. Thomas Snow, Wayne Superior Court 1

· Sen. Brent E. Steele, Steele & Steele, Bedford

· Hon. G. Michael Witte, Dearborn Superior Court

Each will go before the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission for interviews, slated for Nov. 13. Those selected as semi-finalists will return Dec. 12 for a second round of questioning. From there, three names will be given to Gov. Mitch Daniels for consideration.

The person appointed will represent the Fifth District on the court, which means the person must live within the southern third of the state and faces statewide retention.

Judge Sharpnack's retirement will be the second judicial vacancy on the court in less than a year. Judge Patrick D. Sullivan retired in August, and the governor appointed former Marion Superior Judge Cale Bradford to that seat.

For more information about the Court of Appeals applicants, read the Nov. 14-27 issue of Indiana Lawyer.