The Allen Superior Court Judicial Nominating Commission is beginning the process of selecting a new superior court judge, Commission Chairman and Indiana Supreme Court Justice Steven David announced today.  A vacancy on the Allen Superior Court will occur April 26, 2013 when Judge Stephen Sims retires from his position in the Family Relations Division.

State statute particular to Allen County, IC 33-33-2-39, allows another Allen County judge to transfer to Judge Sims position.  Allen County Judge Daniel Heath informed the Commission he will transfer from the Civil Division to the Family Relations Division.  That means a vacancy will be available in Allen Superior Court, Civil Division. 

According to Indiana law, the Judicial Nominating Commission is required to nominate "the three most highly qualified candidates from among all those eligible" for appointment to the Allen Superior Court when a vacancy arises.  "I encourage those interested in a public service career to submit their names to the Commission," said Justice David.  "We recognize the Commission will have a tough task with many qualified Allen County attorneys, but we are looking forward to meeting with the applicants and providing the Governor with an excellent list of candidates."  The appointment will be made by Governor Mike Pence.

Applications are available on the Supreme Court’s website at http://www.in.gov/judiciary/2621.htm and in the Allen County Clerk’s Office, 715 South Calhoun Street, Room 200A, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802.  All applications must be turned into the Allen County Clerk by Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. (EDT).  The Commission will meet on April 25th and 26th at 9:00 a.m. to interview the applicants. A meeting location will be announced at a later date.

The Nominating Commission was established by the Indiana General Assembly in 1983.  It consists of seven members.  Three of the members must be admitted to the bar and are selected by the lawyers of the county.  Three other members must be non-lawyers appointed by the Governor, with no more than two of those appointees from the same political party.  The seventh member, who serves as the chairman of the Commission, must be a justice of the Indiana Supreme Court or a judge of the Court of Appeals appointed by the Chief Justice of Indiana.  Justice David was recently appointed Chairman.