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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowMorgan Superior Judge Peter R. Foley, Owen Circuit Judge Kelsey B. Hanlon and criminal defense attorney Stacy R. Uliana have been selected as finalists to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Court of Appeals of Indiana.
The seven-member Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission selected Foley, Hanlon and Uliana following a day’s worth of interviews on Monday with nine candidates vying to succeed retiring Judge Edward Najam Jr., who is stepping down from the bench this summer.
The JNC, led by Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush, will submit the names of the finalists to Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, who will make the final selection on Najam’s successor.
Foley has served on the Morgan Superior Court since 2015 and is a graduate of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Hanlon has served as the judge of the Owen Circuit Court since 2015 and received her J.D. from Indiana University Maurer School of Law. Uliana is a solo practitioner and serves as an adjunct professor at Indiana University and IU McKinney, where she received her law degree.
The finalists’ applications, as well as those of the other six candidates, can be read online.
Other candidates interviewed Monday included:
- Jason W. Bennett, supervisor of Supreme Court services, Indiana Supreme Court, Indianapolis
- Yvette M. LaPlante, LaPlante LLP, Evansville
- Vigo Superior Judge Lakshmi Y. Reddy
- Vigo Superior Judge John T. Roach III
- Jane D. Wilson
- Bartholomew Superior Judge James D. Worton
Interviews to fill the appellate vacancy were held in-person on Monday in Indianapolis.
Court of Appeals Judge Derek Molter, who succeeded Judge James Kirsch in October 2021 and is a soon-to-be Indiana Supreme Court justice, was Holcomb’s most recent appointment to the appellate bench. The JNC has begun accepting applications to fill Molter’s vacancy on the COA when he joins the Supreme Court, succeeding retiring Justice Steven David.
Holcomb has also named southern Indiana practitioner Leanna Weissmann to the Court of Appeals, succeeding now-Senior Judge John Baker, who retired after more than 40 years on the bench.
Additionally, he appointed Judge Elizabeth Tavitas of Lake County in 2018 as successor to the late Judge Michael Barnes.
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