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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA judge pro tempore has been appointed to perform the duties of Lake Superior Court judge Jesse M. Villalpando, whose name was recently removed from the Nov. 6 general election ballot.
A Friday order announced the Lake Superior Court judge will take leave from the bench beginning today and will remain on leave for the duration of his elected term. Villalpando announced in August that he would retire from the bench Dec. 31 and not stand for retention in the 2018 general election due to a “substantial change in circumstances.”
That announcement came after a Supreme Court office filed a petition asking the high court to appoint a temporary replacement for Villalpando in Lake Superior Court, County Division 4, for dereliction of duty and for complaining of unsubstantiated conspiracy theories involving court officials.
In Villalpando’s place, Stephen A. Tyler has been appointed judge pro tempore, effective Oct. 1. upon his filing of an appropriate written oath of office. According to the Indiana Roll of Attorneys, Tyler is currently with the firm Johnson & Bell, P.C.
Tyler’s tenure on the bench will remain in effect until further order of the court. He will be compensated at the same rate as the regular judge.
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