Wabash Superior judge appointed in 2017 dies at 42

A judge appointed to the Wabash Superior Court by Gov. Eric Holcomb less than two years ago as a successor to now-Indiana Supreme Court Justice Christopher Goff has died. Judge Amy Catherine Conner Cornell, 42, died Feb. 19 after an illness.

Judge Amy Cornell (Photo courtesy The Paper of Wabash County)

Amy was a smart, fair and dedicated judge, and a rising star in her community,” Holcomb said in a statement. “Our state and judiciary will feel her loss for years to come. Janet and I have moved the Cornell family to the top of our prayer list.”

The Wabash Plain Dealer reported this week that friends and family remembered Cornell at a recent memorial service as a kind, compassionate person of deep faith who was quickly embraced by the northern Indiana community she and her husband had called home since 2011. Her husband, John, is pastor of Wabash Presbyterian Church.

Cornell’s obituary is available here.

Holcomb chose Cornell in October 2017 to fill the vacancy at the Wabash courthouse created after he appointed Goff to the Indiana Supreme Court in June of that year.  

“Ms. Cornell, through her diverse education and career choices, will bring a unique combination of talent to the judiciary in Wabash County and Indiana as a whole,” Holcomb said in announcing Cornell’s appointment to the bench.

Cornell had served as a chaplain at White’s Residential and Family Services prior to her service on the bench.

A graduate of Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Cornell was a judicial clerk to Indiana Supreme Court Justice Brent Dickson and later served as an administrative law judge for the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. She previously maintained a private practice and held a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary.

Meanwhile, Holcomb’s office has begun accepting applications to fill the vacancy in Wabash Superior Court. Qualified candidates may apply here by 5 p.m. March 25.