For Immediate Release | April 13, 2022
Applications available for Court of Appeals of Indiana
Today, Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush announced an upcoming vacancy on the Court of Appeals of Indiana. She encourages judges and lawyers in the First District of the Court of Appeals to consider applying. Applications are due by May 20 at 12:00 p.m. (Eastern).
The position on the state's second highest court is available with the summer 2022 retirement of Judge Edward W. Najam, Jr., who is stepping down from the bench after 30 years as a judicial branch leader. Judge Najam was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 1992.
Applications to fill Judge Najam’s seat will be considered by the seven-member Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission. With Chief Justice Rush as chair, the Commission includes three lawyers elected by their peers and three citizen members appointed by the Governor.
A candidate for the vacancy must be an Indiana resident living in the first appellate district. Candidates must also be a member of the Indiana Bar for at least ten years or served as an Indiana judge for five years. The application, which must be submitted through the Indiana Courts Portal and to the Judicial Nominating Commission, contains pertinent background information, writing samples, references, educational transcripts, and letters of recommendation.
In June, the Commission will conduct public interviews of qualified candidates and deliberate in executive session. The Commission will publicly vote to send the three most qualified names to Governor Eric Holcomb. The Governor will have 60 days to select Indiana's next Court of Appeals judge from the three names submitted by the Commission.
Details on the Commission, including membership, are online. Those interested in applying may contact Staff Attorney to the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission, Luba Gore at lyubov.gore@courts.in.gov.