On March 13, the Marion County Judicial Selection Committee will interview sixteen incumbent trial court judges who are seeking retention. The process is required by Indiana law, specifically Indiana Code section 33-33-49-13.8, which states that the committee must determine if each judge is suitable to serve another term and appear on the ballot for voter approval or rejection in 2026.
The interviews will take place in the Supreme Court Conference Room at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. Members of the public may attend, but decorum rules will be enforced during the proceedings.
The schedule for interviews begins with an executive session at 8:30 a.m., followed by individual interviews with Judges Patricia McMath, P.J. Dietrick, James Osborn, Melanie Kendrick, Christina Klineman, Ryan Gardner, Kurt Eisgruber, David Certo, A. Richard Blaiklock, Geoffrey Gaither, Angela Davis, Marshelle Broadwell, Marc Rothenberg, Phillip Sheward, Timothy Oakes and Gary Miller throughout the day. There are breaks for additional executive sessions and lunch.
After all interviews have concluded on March 13, the committee will hold a private executive session to deliberate on each candidate’s suitability for retention as required by Indiana Code section 33-33-49-13.1(q). These closed sessions are authorized under state law to allow confidential discussion about candidates’ qualifications before a public vote is held.
The committee’s final vote on whether each judge should continue serving will be conducted publicly after deliberations conclude.
