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Governor Eric Holcomb announced Thursday the appointments of Janette Surrisi and Nathan Meeks to serve as judges on the Marshall County Circuit Court and the Grant County Superior Court #2.
Surrisi will replace Judge Curt Palmer who retired on May 31. Meeks will replace Judge Bridget Foust who is stepping down July 19.
Surrisi has worked as a private practitioner since 2017 at the law firm Wyland, Humphrey, Clevenger & Surrisi.
She was appointed to the Indiana Commission for Continuing Legal Education. Surrisi serves on the board of directors for Culver Community Youth Center Foundation, Marshall County United Way and Marshall County Lifelong Learning Network.
“I’ve been working for this for a long time and had a lot of community support that helped me get there,” Surrisi told the Indiana Lawyer. “It’s been my dream to have this job and to serve in this particular court.”
Surrisi, who will become the first woman judge in Marshall County, said she believes her experience in appellate law will serve her well in the new position.
“I have a knack for knowing when a trial court is subject to doing something that may be in error,” she said. “The perspective of appellate law is going to help keep me from making common mistakes.”
Surrisi received an undergraduate degree from Indiana University South Bend and a law degree from Valparaiso University School of Law.
Meeks has been practicing law in Marion since 2014.
In 2017, he served for two years as a deputy prosecutor in Grant County. He returned to private practice while working as a part-time public defender and as the attorney for Grant County. Meeks also serves as president of the Grant County Bar Association.
Meeks received an undergraduate degree from Ball State University and a law degree from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.
Meeks was unavailable for comment on Friday.
Surrisi and Meeks will be sworn in as judges on a date to be determined.
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