INDIANA — Forty-eight judicial officers from across Indiana will meet with over 4,300 students and civic group members throughout September 2026 to celebrate Constitution Day.
The outreach initiative, organized by Indiana courts, commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. By bringing judges directly into local classrooms and community spaces, the program aims to promote civic education and give students firsthand insight into the judicial branch of government.
Representing Lawrence County are Circuit Court Judge Nathan Nikirk who will be visiting Bedford Middle School and Magistrate Anah Gouty who will address students at Mitchell Junior High School and St. Vincent de Paul School.
Participating judicial officers will visit schools and community organizations across dozens of Indiana counties around Constitution Day:
- Adams County: Judge Sam Conrad (St. Peter-Immanuel Lutheran School, Three Oaks Christian School, Zion Lutheran School, St. Joseph Catholic School, Wyneken Memorial Lutheran School); Judge Chad Kukelhan (Adams Central, Bellmont Elementary, South Adams Elementary)
- Allen County: Senior Judge Wendy Davis (East Allen County Schools)
- Clark County: Judge Lisa Garcia Reger (Franklin Square Elementary School); Judge Brad Jacobs (Jeffersonville High School)
- Dearborn County: Judge Jon Cleary (Lawrenceburg High School); Judge Aaron Negangard (Greendale Middle School, Lawrenceburg High School)
- Elkhart County: Judge Elizabeth Bellin (Wakarusa Elementary); Judge Andrew Hicks (St. Thomas the Apostle); Judge Christopher Spataro (Elkhart High School)
- Grant County: Court of Appeals Judge Dana Kenworthy [Hendricks County] (Indiana Wesleyan University)
- Hamilton County: Commissioner Christopher Barrows (Westfield Washington Middle School); Tax Court Judge Justin McAdam [Marion County] (Westfield High School)
- Hendricks County: Judge Kathryn Kuehn (Plainfield High School)
- Jennings County: Judge Ellie Bright (Brush Creek Elementary, North Vernon Elementary)
- Johnson County: Judge Andrew Roesener (Break-O-Day Elementary)
- Lake County: Judge Rehana Adat-Lopez (Kolling Elementary); Judge Aleksandra Dimitrijevic (Elliot, Eads, and Frank Hammond elementary schools); Judge John Sedia (Scott Middle School)
- Lawrence County: Magistrate Anah Gouty (Mitchell Junior High School, St. Vincent de Paul); Judge Nathan Nikirk (Bedford Middle School)
- Marion County: Magistrate Polly Beeson (Allisonville Elementary School, Burge Terrace Christian School); Judge Rich Blaiklock (Arsenal Tech High School); Judge Amber Collins-Gebrehiwet (Pike High School); Magistrate Stefanie Crawford (Brookview Elementary); Judge Kurt Eisgruber (Bishop Chatard); Judge Clayton Graham (Pike High School, Holy Angels Catholic School); Judge John Kitley (Nativity Catholic School); Magistrate Elizabeth Klees (Eastwood Middle School); Judge Helen Marchal (Ivy Tech); Judge Marc Rothenberg (Hasten Hebrew Academy); Judge Jonathan Sturgill (Arsenal Tech High School)
- Marshall County: Judge Tami Napier (Triton High School, Culver High School)
- Miami County: Judge Jacob Winkler (Maconaquah Middle School)
- Monroe County: Judge Emily Salzmann (Summit Elementary School)
- Newton County: Judge Jeryl Leach (Lake Village, Lincoln, and Morocco elementary schools, North Newton Jr. and Sr. high schools); Judge Patrick Ryan (South Newton)
- Orange County: Judge Steven Owen (Throop Elementary)
- Porter County: Judge Rebecca Buitendorp (Thomas Jefferson Middle School); Court of Appeals Judge Mary DeBoer (Immanuel Lutheran School); Magistrate Kristen Mulligan (Cooks Corners Elementary School); Magistrate Ana Patricia Osan (Jackson Elementary School)
- St. Joseph County: Magistrate Elizabeth Hardtke (Penn Harris Madison)
- Tippecanoe County: Judge Michael Morrissey (Purdue University); Judge Sean Persin (McCutcheon High School); Chief Justice Loretta Rush (Battle Ground Middle School)
- Vigo County: Judge Christopher Newton (Sugar Grove Elementary)
- Wayne County: Commissioner Austin Shadle (Centerville Junior High School)
Members of the media interested in attending a classroom presentation must contact the participating judge and the specific school directly in advance to ensure compliance with local visitor safety protocols.
Judges, educators, and schools participating in the events are encouraged to share photos and updates on social media using the hashtag #INConstitutionDay.
