The Indiana State Bar Association has released results of its 2012 Judicial Retention Poll. None of the six appellate judges up for retention in the Indiana Supreme Court or Court of Appeals received less than 81 percent of “yes” votes.

Nearly 1,400 ballots were cast by ISBA members on whether Justices Robert Rucker and Steven David, and Court of Appeals Judges John Baker, Nancy Vaidik, Paul Mathias, and Michael Barnes should be retained. Mathias received the most “yes” votes at nearly 89 percent, followed by Rucker, Barnes, Vaidik, Baker, and David.

More than 9,340 ISBA members were electronically surveyed four times from Sept. 17 through Oct. 12.

Voters statewide will answer whether Rucker, David and Vaidik should be retained.  Only voters in the counties that make up the First District of the Court of Appeals will vote on Baker; voters in the Third District will decide whether Mathias and Barnes should be retained.

Appellate judges face an approval vote in the first general election that occurs at least two years after their appointment, and every 10 years thereafter. This year is the first time voters will have a say on whether David should be retained, as he was appointed to the Supreme Court in October 2010.  

The Division of State Court Administration has set up a retention website for voters to learn more about the six judges.