Thirteen judges and lawyers who applied for an opening on the Court of Appeals of Indiana will be interviewed by the Judicial Nominating Commission on June 10. The date has been changed from the original schedule.

Wednesday, June 10
9:00 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. – Mr. Jason W. Bennett
9:20 a.m. – 9:40 a.m. – Hon. James D. Worton
9:40 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Ms. Erin L. Berger
10:00 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. – Mr. Joby D. Jerrells
Break
10:30 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. – Mr. Abraham A. Navarro
10:50 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. – Hon. Matthew L. Headley
11:10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Mr. Terry W. Tolliver
Lunch and Executive Session
1:00 p.m. – 1:20 p.m. – Ms. Crystal G. Rowe
1:20 p.m. – 1:40 p.m. – Hon. Peter R. Foley
1:40 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Hon. Kevin M. Barton
Break
2:10 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Ms. Lisa G. Reger
2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. – Ms. Leanna K. Weissmann
2:50 p.m. – 3:10 p.m. – Hon. Lakshmi Y. Reddy
Break
3:35 p.m. – Executive Session followed by public vote

Applications, along with writing samples, transcripts, and letters of recommendation are a matter of public record. Redacted applications are available online.

Interviews were originally announced as taking place on April 8 and were rescheduled for May 7-8. Due to the continued social distancing required to slow the spread of COVID-19, the interviews are rescheduled for June 10. The location of the interviews will be announced on the vacancy website along with decorum rules which will be in effect, including any adjustments that may be required based on social distancing measures.

The vacancy is the result of the retirement of Court of Appeals Judge John G. Baker. According to the Indiana Constitution and state statute, the seven-member Judicial Nominating Commission must recruit and select candidates to fill vacancies on Indiana appellate courts. With Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush as chair, the Commission includes three lawyers elected by their peers and three citizen-members appointed by the Governor.

A second round of interviews will take place on July 1. Following the interviews, the Commission will publicly vote to select the three most qualified candidates in an executive session and submit them to Governor Eric Holcomb, who has 60 days from receiving the list to select Indiana's next Court of Appeals judge.