Judicial Survey

St. Joseph Superior Court judges are chosen through a process known as merit selection and retention.  Applicants for a judicial vacancy are reviewed by a committee, the Judicial Nominating Committee (JNC),  made up of three elected attorneys, three citizens (all chosen by the Governor and our County Commissioners), and chaired by a justice of the Indiana Supreme Court. The committee then selects the top five candidates and presents those names to Indiana’s governor for final selection.

After being appointed to the bench, the judge stands for a retention vote at the next general election (2018, 2020, etc.). Thereafter, retained judges face the voters again every six years.

To assist voters in deciding whether to vote for or against the retention of a particular judge, the St. Joseph County Bar Association surveys its members each year. Members are asked to critique the St. Joseph Superior Court judges on a variety of matters, and the results are made available to the public. The survey was first conducted in 2008.

The survey results for all years are available here so citizens may review any trends regarding a particular judge. The survey results are in PDF format.

The survey for 2024 was distributed to attorney bar members on September 10, 2024 this year.


2024 Judicial-Survey-Letter                2024 Judicial-Survey-Results

For any questions, please contact The Survey Coordinator, Kylie Connell, or the Bar Office at 574-245-6753.



2023 Note:  No survey was conducted as there were no judges up for a retention vote.

2022 Judicial Survey Introduction and Methodology

2022 Judicial Survey Results

2021 Note:  No survey was conducted as there were no judges up for a retention vote.

Information about 2020 Survey Results

2020-Judicial-Survey-Results Updated
2019 Note: No Survey was conducted as there were no judges up for a retention vote.

2018 Results

2017 Results

2016 Results

2015 Results

2014 Results

2013 Results

2012 Results

2011 Results

2010 Results

2009 Results

2008 Results