Indiana Supreme Court
Division of State Court Administration
30 S. Meridian Street, Ste. 500
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Lilia G. Judson, Esq.
Executive Director

David J. Remondini, Esq.
Chief Deputy Executive Director

Pho: 317-232-2542
Fax: 317-233-6586

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State Court Administration > Projects & Initiatives > Judicial Retention 2012 Judicial Retention 2012

"The health of our entire legal system—both state and federal—depends on having a competent and independent state judiciary… How we choose our state judges, and how we decide whether to keep them in office or not, is of critical importance.”

—the Honorable Sandra Day O’Connor
Retired Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States

About Judicial Retention

Judges up for Retention in 2012

In 2012, two members of the Indiana Supreme Court and four members of the Court of Appeals of Indiana are up for retention.

Justice Robert D. Rucker

Indiana Supreme Court

Robert D. Rucker was appointed to the Indiana Supreme Court by Governor Frank O'Bannon in 1999. Born in Canton, Georgia, Justice Rucker grew up in Gary, Indiana, and is a veteran of the Vietnam War. He is a graduate of Indiana University (B.A. 1974) and Valparaiso University School of Law (J.D. 1976). In 1998, he earned a Master of Laws degree in the judicial process from the University of Virginia Law School. Prior to his appointment to the Indiana Supreme Court, Justice Rucker served as a Judge on the Indiana Court of Appeals, having been appointed to that position in... Read more »

View Judicial Opinions in cases heard by Justice Rucker

Justice Steven H. David

Indiana Supreme Court

Justice Steve David has enjoyed a multi-faceted career with private practice and corporate counsel experience, twenty-eight years of stellar military service and fifteen years as a trial court judge in Boone County. While Justice David’s military career has taken him all over the world, he has strong ties to Indiana. His ancestors settled in southern Indiana in the late 1700's and early 1800's.  He was born in Allen County, raised in Bartholomew County and has lived in Boone County for twenty-two years. He graduated magna cum laude from Murray State University as a Distinguished Military Graduate on an R.O.T.C. scholarship. Read more »

View Judicial Opinions in cases heard by Justice David

Judge John G. Baker

Court of Appeals of Indiana. First District.

Judge John G. Baker was named to the Court of Appeals in 1989, which makes him the longest-serving member on the current Court. He is Presiding Judge of the Court’s First District, which covers all of southern Indiana, and he served as Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals from 2007-2010. Judge Baker is a southern Indiana native who grew up along the Ohio River in Aurora, but attended high school at Culver Military Academy in northern Indiana. He earned a B.A. in history from Indiana University in 1968 and his J.D. from Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington in 1971. Read more »

View Judicial Opinions in cases for which Judge Baker served on the panel

Judge Nancy H. Vaidik

Court of Appeals of Indiana. Fifth District.

Nancy H. Vaidik is a judge and a teacher with broad experience in both trial and appellate courts and in legal classrooms. She has an expertise in trial advocacy and appellate advocacy, with a strong background in the rules of evidence and legal mediation. Judge Vaidik grew up in Portage, Indiana, and is a sixth-generation Hoosier who retains strong ties to her home town. She graduated with high distinction from Valparaiso University in 1977, with a double major in political science and psychology, and then studied at Valparaiso University Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctor in 1980. Read more »

View Judicial Opinions in cases for which Judge Vaidik served on the panel

Judge Paul D. Mathias

Court of Appeals of Indiana. Third District.

Paul D. Mathias is a fifth-generation Hoosier who deeply believes that Indiana is a special place to live. He is honored to serve on the Court of Appeals, where he strives daily to reflect and protect Hoosier values within the law. Judge Mathias practiced law in Fort Wayne, concentrating in construction law, personal injury, and appellate practice. He was appointed Referee of the Allen County Small Claims Court in 1985 and served as Judge of the Allen Superior Court from 1989-2000 when he was appointed to the Court of Appeals. In 2002, he was retained by election to the court. Read more »

View Judicial Opinions in cases for which Judge Mathias served on the panel

Judge Michael P. Barnes

Court of Appeals of Indiana. Third District.

Michael P. Barnes was appointed to the Court of Appeals of Indiana in May 2000 after long service as the St. Joseph County Prosecuting Attorney. He was retained on the Court by election in 2002 and served as Presiding Judge of the 3rd District from 2009 through 2011. In 2011 he wrote 160 majority opinions for the Court of Appeals. Judge Barnes was born and raised in rural Illinois. He earned a B.A. in History at St. Ambrose College in Davenport, IA in 1970 and received his J.D. in 1973 from the University of Notre Dame Law School. Read more »

View Judicial Opinions in cases for which Judge Barnes served on the panel

The Division of State Court Administration does not endorse the results of any surveys on judicial retention or the views expressed on any website outside the Indiana Judicial System web pages.