The legal community is invited to attend the public robing ceremony of recently appointed Marion Superior Court Judge James Snyder on Thursday, February 6 at 3:30 p.m. in the Community Justice Center’s Jury/Public Assembly Room. There will be open seating with additional standing room available. The ceremony is expected to last approximately 30 minutes. Registration is not required. Open seating will be first come, first serve beginning at 3:00 p.m.

For the term January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026, the appointments for the Marion Superior Court are:

Executive Committee of Marion Superior Court
Presiding Judge - Hon. Marc Rothenberg
Associate Presiding Judges - Hon. Stephen Creason, Hon. Angela Davis, Hon. Marie Kern

Civil Term Chair - Hon. John Chavis
Criminal Term Chair - Hon. Jennifer Harrison
Family Term Chair - Hon. Philip Sheward
Probation Department Supervising Judge - Hon. Helen Marchal
Information Technology Supervising Judge - Hon. Amy Jones

The Executive Committee Judges of the Marion Superior Court have approved the following changes in court room assignments for operations  effective 1-1-2025. 

• Civil Division, Court D11 - Judge Richard A.M. Blaiklock (replacing Judge John Hanley)
• Family Division, Court D15 - Judge Tara Melton (replacing Judge Richard A.M. Blaiklock)
• Criminal Division - Major Felony Section, Court D32 - Judge James Snyder (replacing Judge Mark Stoner)

Meet our next member spotlight, Lisa LaFornara - Partner at Cohen and Malad LLP

Special thanks to the following law students for assisting with the CHIP Handbook of Help in 2024. The project was led by IndyBar's Pro Bono Committee member, Brittany Kelley, Office of Judicial Administration. The project is funded by a grant from the Indianapolis Bar Foundation.

• Maggie Ballentine, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• Alyson Bray, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• Patricia Cavanaugh, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• Caitlyn Fields, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• Eliza Malott, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• Jennifer Tursi, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• Sarah Ullrich, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• John Vance, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• Whitley Wynns, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• Micelle Zeiler, Indiana University Maurer School of Law

If you're interested in volunteering, contact Kari Hartman at khartman@indybar.org

On Friday, December 20, members of the Bench and the Bar gathered for the ceremonious swearing-in of all retained Marion Superior Court Judges. You can watch the ceremony here. 

Dear IndyBar Members,

I hope this message finds you well and thriving in both your professional and personal lives, or at least surviving this very busy holiday season. As we continue to navigate the complexities of our legal careers, it's essential that we take a moment to reflect on the core values that unite us as members of this prestigious association. One such value is our commitment to inclusivity. It is a principle that transcends the boundaries of our practice areas, experience levels, and backgrounds. And yet, despite our shared dedication to excellence in the legal profession, we must be honest about a concern that has been raised by some of our members: the perception that the Indianapolis Bar Association can feel cliquish, leaving some members feeling disconnected or excluded.

As your president, I want to address this issue head-on, acknowledging that no organization is immune to the challenges of building a truly inclusive community. At the same time, I firmly believe that we have the opportunity—and indeed, the responsibility—to ensure that every member feels welcome, valued, and connected.

Read more from David J. Duncan, President, Indianapolis Bar Association.

Meet our next Member Spotlight, Libby Moyer, Associate at Ice Miller LLP

On Tuesday, Dec. 17, members of the Bench and the Bar gathered to express gratitude to the Hon. John F. Hanley, member of the Marion Superior Court, for his career of public service and commitment to the Indianapolis legal community at his Judicial Retirement Ceremony. You can watch a recording of the ceremony here.

On Friday, Dec. 13, members of the Bench and the Bar gathered to express gratitude to the Hon. Mark D. Stoner, member of the Marion Superior Court, for his career of public service and commitment to the Indianapolis legal community at his Judicial Retirement Ceremony. You can watch a recording of the ceremony here.