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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA former Marion Superior judge and deputy prosecutor died May 2 after a long battle with cancer. Judge John R. “Jack” Barney Jr., 73, also served as a senior judge for Marion Circuit and Superior courts.
Judge Barney, an Indianapolis native, earned his law degree from Indiana University School of Law in 1962 and joined his father’s law firm, Barney & Hughes, after graduation. He practiced at the firm, which later became Barney & Barney, until 1984.
Judge Barney was a Marion County deputy prosecutor for 12 years, including five years spent as chief deputy. He was elected judge in Marion Superior Court and served in the criminal division for 12 years, acting as associate presiding judge, presiding judge of jury pool, and presiding judge of probation department. He continued to serve as a senior judge after stepping down from the bench full time.
He was a pilot in the U.S. Air Force from 1956 to 1959 and continued to serve in the Air Force Reserves, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1978. He participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, the same year he earned his law degree.
Active in the Republican Party, he was a co-founder with Sen. Richard Lugar of the first Marion County Young Republican Club. He was a longtime member of the Greater Indianapolis Republican Finance Committee and the Marion County Republican Veterans.
He was a past vice president and member of the Board of Managers of the Indianapolis Bar Association and a distinguished fellow of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation.
Judge Barney is survived by his mother, Helen A. Barney; wife, Nancy Campbell Barney; former wife, Sarah Cook Barney; children Elizabeth, John III, and Melissa; stepchildren Roger, Brad, and Brian; and grandchildren.
Calling will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, Carmel. The Burial Office and Holy Eucharist will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at St. Christopher’s. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church Memorial Fund, 1402 W. Main St., Carmel, 46032 or to the IU Foundation-Cancer Research, c/o Dr. Larry Einhorn, 535 Barnhill Dr., Room 473, Indianapolis, 46202.
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