(Third District)
409 State House
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-232-6887
Elizabeth F. Tavitas was appointed to the Court of Appeals by Governor Eric Holcomb and began her service on August 6, 2018. She was selected by her colleagues to serve a three-year term as Chief Judge beginning January 1, 2026.
Judge Tavitas received her B.A. degree, cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame in 1985, and earned her J.D. degree from Notre Dame Law School in 1990. She was admitted to the Indiana Bar; United States District Court, Northern District of Indiana; and United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana in 1990. She is a 2007 Indiana Judicial College graduate and a graduate of the 2012 Indiana Graduate Program for Judges.
Born and raised in St. Joseph County, Judge Tavitas pursued her legal career in northwest Indiana. Prior to her appointment to the Court of Appeals, she served for more than twelve years as Judge of the Superior Court of Lake County, Civil Division from 2006-2018. She began her legal career as a deputy prosecutor in the Lake County Prosecutor's Office; served as a juvenile public defender in the Lake Superior Court, Juvenile Division; and maintained a private practice. In 1998, she was appointed to the position of referee in the Lake Superior Court, Juvenile Division, where she served until 2006. During that time, Judge Tavitas served on the Juvenile Benchbook Committee.
Judge Tavitas has donated her time in service of the profession throughout her career, serving on numerous boards and committees throughout her tenure. Some of her roles include serving as Chair and board member of NWI Volunteer Lawyers, Inc., as a judicial appointee member of the Indiana Pro Bono Commission, as a board member of Indiana Legal Services, Inc., as a board member of the Notre Dame Law School Association and Executive Advisory Committee, as a judicial appointee member of the Indiana Supreme Court Domestic Relations Committee, as Chair of the Indiana Family Law Taskforce, as a board member of both the Indiana Bar Foundation and the Coalition for Court Access, as a member of the Indiana Judges Association, and as Chair of the Indiana State Bar Association, Appellate Practice Section Council.
Judge Tavitas is an active member of several bar associations and is a member of the Sagamore American Inn of Court. An avid advocate for civics education, she has served as a moot court judge for the Notre Dame Law School Trial Advocacy Program, Wabash College Moot Court Competition, and as a judge for the "We the People" and mock trial programs sponsored by the Indiana Bar Foundation. As a trial court judge, she sponsored Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) trainings. She has been a frequent speaker for lawyers, judges, and court staff trainings throughout Indiana, and has served as an adjunct law professor at IU McKinney teaching Indiana constitutional law.
In 2015, Judge Tavitas was named Most Influential Woman of Northwest Indiana in the Law. She was also a recipient of a 2019 Fellows Award from the Indiana Bar Foundation and received the Indiana Lawyer’s 2021 Distinguished Barrister award. In 2023, she was recognized as a Courageous Judge Honoree by the National Judicial College for demonstrating courage in upholding the rule of law and providing justice for all.
Judge Tavitas most enjoys spending time with her three children and her three grandchildren. She enjoys reading, Notre Dame football games, traveling, hiking, and the arts.