Marion County residents stare down the barrel of losing their right to vote for Superior Court judges.
House Bill 1036 (HB 1036), introduced by Rep. Greg Steuerwald (R-Avon), provides for the selection of Marion County Superior Court judges by a 14-member judicial selection committee. The committee sends three candidates per vacancy to the governor for approval.
A similar process is used to select judges for the Indiana Supreme Court.
The Indiana Democrat African American Caucus (IDAAC) opposes House Bill 1036.
The electorate of Marion County should be reflected in its judiciary.
The composition of the judicial nominating committee must include diversity.
House Bill 1036 requires that the judicial selection committee consist of 14 members. Most must come from Marion County and are selected by the speaker of the house, the minority leader of the House of Representatives, the president pro tempore of the Senate, the minority leader of the Senate, the Indianapolis Bar Association, the Marion County Bar Association, the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association and the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana.
Two members would be appointed by the chairperson of each major political party; with one from each party a woman. The chief judge of the Indiana Court of Appeals or their designee, and the chief justice of Indiana or their designee, also get a seat.
This is certainly an all-star cast of committee members. Yet, what is missing from these requirements? A specific intent to include Black, Hispanic and Asian representation. These groups make up 28 percent, 10 percent and 2 percent of Marion County residents, respectively. Women, who make up over 51 percent of Marion County, are also barely mentioned.
A selection committee that reflects the population is more likely to pick judges who mirror the population.
In America, 4.8 percent of attorneys are Black. If our selection committee guidelines only stipulate a generic selection of lawyers, racial diversity in the selection committee will lack.
Ideally, HB 1036 should be amended to ensure that Marion County’s bench reflects the racial composition of its residents.
At minimum, the bill must be amended to include racial and gender diversity within the ranks of the judicial selection committee.
If the state legislature is going to put Marion County’s vote for judges in the hands of a secret committee, at least give it to a group that reflects our diversity.
Signed,
Jamar Cobb-Dennard, IDAAC president
