19 to be interviewed for Lake Superior judgeship

The Lake County Judicial Nominating Commission will begin conducting interviews to fill an upcoming vacancy in the Lake Superior Court left by Judge Jesse M. Villalpando, following his decision to not seek retention earlier this year.

Led by Indiana Supreme Court Justice Geoffrey Slaughter, the Lake JNC will meet to interview applicants on Dec. 3 and, if necessary, 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. Exact times have yet to be determined.

The 19 applicants are:

• Magistrate Judge Kathleen Belzeski

• Todd Bockman

• Daniel Burke

• Carrie Castro

• Aleksandra Dimitrijevic

• Steve Haddad

• Bernard Johnsen

• Merrillville Town Court Judge Gina Jones

• Hammond City Court Judge Amy Jorgensen

• Kristina Kantar

• Andrew Kraemer

• Alan Kus

• Inga Lewis-Shannon

• Alexander Lopez

• Joshua Malher

• Frank Martinez, III

• Magistrate Judge Timothy Ormes

• Magistrate Judge Michael Pagano

• Magistrate Judge Kathleen Sullivan

The Commission will accept public comment on the applicants by email at [email protected] until 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19.

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.

Interviews are open to the public and an interview schedule will be released soon.