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By Magistrate Kelly Scanlan, Marion Superior Court
Have you ever considered becoming a judge? Do you know what the process is for the selection of trial court judges in Marion County and appellate court judges in Indiana? As part of the effort to support a greater pipeline of Hispanic citizens into the practice of law and to strengthen the bench, IndyBar’s Hispanic Lawyers Division is hosting from 9 a.m.-noon on Oct. 6, “Strengthening the Bench: Equity, Inclusivity, and the Path to Judicial Selection.” The seminar will share more about equity, inclusion, and how to apply for the Marion County and Indiana appellate court benches.
The IndyBar’s Hispanic Lawyers Division was formed in 2022 with the purpose of providing Hispanic-focused programming and resources to educate and benefit members of our entire local legal community. Encouraging its members to apply for the Bar Leader Series and other leadership opportunities within the association and the legal community is integral to the mission.
Strengthening the bench is an important part of that effort. As of the 2022 United States Census, approximately 11% of Marion County residents were Hispanic or Latino, which percentage is not reflected in the current makeup of the Marion County bench. With this and other considerations in mind, and to further support its purpose, the Hispanic Lawyers Division is holding the half-day CLE during National Hispanic Heritage Month to provide interested members and other attendees with a solid base of knowledge regarding the judicial selection process, and to hopefully spark interest in contributing to and strengthening our judiciary.
The half-day CLE will begin with an hour presentation from Rob Love, the energetic and engaging chief diversity officer for the Indiana Supreme Court, to learn about current Indiana Supreme Court Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.
The second hour, moderated by Chris Muniz, includes a conversation with Adrienne Meiring, counsel to the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission, and Lee Christie and Danny Lopez, current members of the commission. The commission recruits and interviews applicants to fill vacancies on the Indiana Supreme Court, the Indiana Court of Appeals and the Indiana Tax Court. The governor appoints one of the commission’s nominees for each vacancy. The commission also selects the chief justice of Indiana from among the five justices.
Finally, Briceida Ortega will moderate a panel of three current members of the Marion County Judicial Selection Committee and two judicial officers who have participated in the Marion County application process several times. The committee was formed in 2017 and consists of 14 members representing local and state political parties and various stakeholders, including IndyBar. The committee evaluates candidates for Marion County judicial vacancies and submits the names of finalists to the governor.
This half-day event will provide you with a wealth of information and answer questions about judicial selection, such as who receives an interview for judicial vacancies, what are commission and committee members looking for in applicants, and what is the role of diversity in the judicial selection process.
Please join us beginning at 9 a.m. on Oct. 6 at IndyBar HQ, 140 N. Illinois St., Indianapolis, 46204, and get your questions about judicial selection answered! Everyone is welcome, and we look forward to seeing you for this valuable opportunity to gain indispensable information regarding the path and essential prerequisites for becoming a Marion County judge, Indiana Court of Appeals judge and Indiana Supreme Court justice. You may register by visiting the IndyBar website.•
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