INDIANAPOLIS — Chief Justice Loretta Rush recognized dozens of Indiana judges, magistrates, and community partners for their commitment to higher education, long-time service, and advocacy during the annual Indiana Judicial Conference.
The honors included educational certificates awarded to 32 judicial officers and service milestones recognized for nine long-serving trial judges and magistrates across the state.
Indiana Judicial College Graduates Recognized
Thirty-two judicial officers earned their Indiana Judicial College certificates after completing 120 hours of advanced continuing legal education administered by the Indiana Office of Court Services, an agency of the Office of Judicial Administration designed to enhance professional development and court performance.
The new certificate recipients include:
- Magistrate Benjamin Aylsworth (Warrick County)
- Judge Brian Bade (Blackford County)
- Magistrate Taylor Beaty (Allen County)
- Judge Elizabeth Bellin (Elkhart County)
- Magistrate John Bohdan II (Allen County)
- Magistrate James Burns (Steuben County)
- Judge Steven Clouse (Noble County)
- Magistrate Micah Cox (Starke County)
- Judge Kurt Eisgruber (Marion County)
- Judge Charnette Garner (Marion County)
- Magistrate Peter Haughan (Marion County)
- Judge Troy Hawkins (Carroll County)
- Judge Gina Jones (Lake County)
- Judge Christina Klineman (Marion County)
- Judge Paul Mathias (Indiana Court of Appeals)
- Judge Tara Melton (Marion County)
- Judge Scott Norrick (Madison County)
- Magistrate David Nowak (Bartholomew County)
- Judge Jaime Oss (LaPorte County)
- Judge Hans Pate (Howard County)
- Judge Bruce Petit (Boone County)
- Referee Thomas Pulley (Spencer County)
- Magistrate Amy Richison (Huntington County)
- Magistrate Roman Ricker (Gibson County)
- Magistrate Travis Sandifur (Marion County)
- Judge Stephanie Steele (St. Joseph County)
- Judge A. Douglas Stephens (Pike County)
- Judge Lisa Swaim (Cass County)
- Magistrate Regina Tidwell (Marion County)
- Judge William Walz IV (LaGrange County)
- Magistrate Shawna Webster (Knox County)
- Judge Jacob Winkler (Miami County)
24 Years of Bench Service Honored
Nine judicial officers were presented with the 24 Years of Service award. Because trial judges in Indiana are typically elected to six-year terms, receiving the certificate reflects a career spanning four or more successful election cycles or equivalent long-standing judicial appointments.
The 24-year honorees are:
- Judge John Feick (Delaware County)
- Judge Matthew Kincaid (Boone County)
- Judge Thomas Lett (Tipton County)
- Judge Dan Marshall (Hancock County)
- Judge Marc Rothenberg (Marion County)
- Magistrate Scott Stowers (Marion County)
- Judge Douglas Tate (Howard County)
- Judge Jeffrey Todd (Grant County)
- Judge Bob Witham (Henry County)
Indiana Judges Association Community and Media Awards
In addition to judicial education and tenure milestones, the Indiana Judges Association (IJA) presented several partner and leadership awards honoring legislative, judicial, legal, and media champions for their collaborative efforts with state courts.
IJA leadership awards were presented to:
- Jon Laramore, Executive Director of Indiana Legal Services
- Representative Garrett Basom
- Senator Scott Baldwin
Furthermore, the Judicial Conference Community Relations Committee presented outreach awards on behalf of the IJA to recognize individuals demonstrating outstanding public communication regarding the work of the judiciary:
- Judge Donald Mote (Jefferson County)
- Katie Clontz (The Courier-Times, Henry County)
