INDIANA – Three Indiana Supreme Court justices and two Court of Appeals judges on the ballot on General Election Day have been retained. The Indiana Secretary of State’s Office reports each judicial officer on the ballot garnered a decisive majority of yes votes.
Voters selected “yes” or “no” to retain each of the five appellate-level judges.
The Secretary of State’s Office reports the following results for the State Judicial Retention Question:
- Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush – 71% yes with more than 1,630,000 yes votes
- Justice Mark S. Massa – 69% yes with more than 1,556,000 yes votes
- Justice Derek R. Molter – 70% yes with more than 1,566,000 yes votes
- Judge Rudolph R. Pyle III (4th District) – 71% yes with more than 1,553,000 yes votes
- Judge Peter R. Foley (1st District) – 72% yes with more than 591,000 yes votes
Appellate judges Rush, Massa, Molter, and Pyle were on a statewide ballot. Judge Foley was not, since he represents the First District (which includes 53 counties in the southern part of the state).
To help voters make informed decisions about the judges on the ballot, the Supreme Court’s Office of Judicial Administration created a website at courts.in.gov/retention. The website includes biographical information, video of oral arguments, and a link to each judge’s written opinions. The Indiana State Bar Association also released results from a survey of its members asking lawyers whether the appellate judges should be retained. The results indicate strong support for the judges.
Indiana has used a merit selection process to choose and retain its appellate judges for the past 50 years. Once appointed, a judge must stand for retention at the first statewide general election after the judge has served for two full years. If retained, the judge is on the retention ballot every 10 years.
