Indiana Judicial Center Honors Judges, Magistrates and Commissioners for Service and Commitment to Higher Education

The Indiana Judicial Center honored dozens of judges and magistrates for their commitment to higher education and their long-time service to the judicial branch in 2009. Indiana Judicial Center Executive Director Jane Seigel explained, “All Indiana judges have continuing education requirements. The judges who make a commitment to our advanced education programs are going above and beyond. We also recognize the long-time judges in our state who have made public service their life’s work.”

The judicial officers were recognized by the Indiana Judicial Center, The Indiana Supreme Court and about 500 judges from across the state at an annual meeting. Seventeen judicial officers completed coursework to attain an Indiana Judicial College certificate and two judges received an Indiana Judicial College Master’s certificate. Twenty seven judicial officers were recognized for graduating from the Indiana Graduate Program for Judges. Four judicial officers who completed a science and technology program known as ASTAR were recognized. Seven judges were honored for their 24 years of service on the bench.

2009 Indiana Judicial College Certificate Graduates: A judicial officer must complete 120 hours of judicial education presented by the Indiana Judicial Center to receive the Indiana Judicial College certificate. The programs offered for Judicial College credit are designed specifically for judicial officers in the following areas: legal ability, judicial skills, contemporary and interdisciplinary issues, judicial responsibility, personal growth and development.

Lake Superior Court Magistrate Natalie Bokota
Johnson Circuit Court Magistrate Marla Clark
Allen Superior Court Magistrate Brian Cook
Elkhart Circuit Court Magistrate Deborah Domine
Floyd Superior Court Judge Glenn Hancock
Putnam Circuit Court Judge Matthew Headley
Jay Circuit Court Judge Brian Hutchison
LaPorte Superior Court Judge Kathleen Lang
Newton Circuit Court Judge Jeryl Leach

Marion Superior Court Magistrate Kimberly Dean Mattingly
Howard Superior Court Judge William Menges
Washington Superior Court Judge Frank Newkirk
Marion Superior Court Judge David Shaheed
Lake Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Tavitas
Randolph Circuit Court Judge Jay Toney
Dubois Circuit Court Judge William Weikert
Henry Superior Court Judge Bob Witham

2009 Indiana Judicial College Master’s Certificate Graduates: The masters program requires the completion of 240 hours of Judicial Center education and an original writing or “special” project as approved by the Judicial Education Committee.

Steuben Circuit Court Judge Allen Wheat

Senior Judge Douglas Morton of Rochester

2009 Indiana Graduate Program for Judges: The Graduate Program is an in-depth and intensive learning experience which requires one week of course work for two consecutive summers with additional assignments.

Clark Circuit & Superior Courts Magistrate Kenneth Abbott
Lake Superior Court Magistrate Kathleen Belzeski
Elkhart Superior Court Judge George Biddlecome
Dearborn Superior Court Judge Sally Blankenship
Vigo Circuit/Superior Court Judge David Bolk
Marion Superior Court Commissioner John Boyce
Indiana Court of Appeals Judge Cale Bradford
Marion Superior Court Judge Linda Brown
Clark Superior Court Judge Vicki Carmichael
Marion Superior Court Judge David Certo
Steuben Circuit/Superior Court Magistrate Randy Coffey
Senior Judge Natalie Conn
St. Joseph Circuit Court Judge Michael Gotsch
Morgan Superior Court Judge G. Thomas Gray

Lake Superior Court Judge Calvin Hawkins
Huntington Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Heffelfinger
Howard Superior Court Judge George Hopkins
Boone Superior Court Judge Matthew Kincaid
Montgomery Superior Court Judge Peggy Lohorn
St. Joseph Superior Court Judge John Marnocha
Indiana Court of Appeals Judge Melissa May
Allen Superior Court Magistrate Lori Morgan
Vigo Superior Court Judge Christopher Newton
Allen Superior Court Magistrate Karen Springer
Warren Circuit Court Judge John Rader
Marion Circuit Court Judge Louis Rosenberg
Lake Superior Court Magistrate John Sedia

2009 ASTAR Recipients: The Advanced Science and Technology Adjudication Resource Center or ASTAR is a national program designed to prepare state and federal judges for complex cases involving science. For more information on ASTAR visit www.einshac.org/index.html.

Warren Circuit Court Judge John Rader
Indiana Court of Appeals Judge L. Mark Bailey

Noble Superior Court Judge Michael Kramer
Marion Superior Court Commissioner Kenneth Johnson

24 Year Certificates: This award is given to judges with 24 years of service on the bench.

Tippecanoe Superior Court Judge Gregory Donat
Steuben Superior Court Judge William Fee
St. Joseph Superior Court Judge J. Jerome Frese
Fayette Circuit Court Judge Daniel Pflum

Shelby Superior Court Judge Jack Tandy
Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary Harper
Huntington Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Heffelfinger

The Indiana Judicial Center serves as the state’s judicial research and continuing judicial education agency. It develops and sponsors continuing education programming for judges, probation officers, and other court personnel. The Center works to enhance the performance of the judicial system as a whole by continuously improving the professional competence of judicial officers. For more information on the Center visit www.in.gov/judiciary/center/.