Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Lake County Bar Association released its judicial candidate survey results Thursday of nearly 20 applicants vying to fill an upcoming vacancy in the Lake Superior Court.
Applications for the position were requested following Judge Jesse M. Villalpando’s decision to not seek retention earlier this year. The candidate survey was available online to more than 1,000 attorneys living or practicing law in Lake County. By Nov. 26, the committee received 312 responses to the survey which asked lawyers to anonymously rate the applicants on a scale of one to 10 based on their legal ability, demeanor, court administration and practice management, impartiality and overall rating of the applicant as a candidate.
Of the 19 applicants aiming to fill soon-to-be vacant seat, Lake County Magistrate Judge Michael Pagano received the highest percentage of votes favored to secure the spot at 78.5 percent. The next highest ranked candidate was Magistrate Judge Kathleen Belzeski with a 68.9 percent approval rate.
The commission will meet to interview applicants on Dec. 3 and Dec. 4. Interviews will be held in the Lake County Board of Commissioners hearing room on the third floor of building A at the Lake County Government Center in Crown Point.
Indiana law requires that the commission be composed of four Lake County attorneys, four non-attorney Lake County residents and a member of the Indiana Supreme Court sitting as Commission Chair. The commission is tasked with submitting the names of “the three most highly qualified candidates from among all those eligible” to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, who will make the final judicial appointment.
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.