The newest Indiana Court of Appeals judge will formally join the court Friday. Judge Elaine Brown's robing ceremony will be in the courtroom of the Indiana Supreme Court. Judge Brown's first day on the court was May 5.

Chief Judge John Baker will preside over the ceremony, and Gov. Mitch Daniels will join Judge Brown's family, colleagues, and special guests to administer the oath of office.

Judge Brown was named to the Indiana Court of Appeals by Gov. Daniels earlier this year to replace Judge John T. Sharpnack, who began serving as a senior judge May 5. Judge Brown, a graduate of Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington, served as a trial court judge in Dubois Superior Court from 1987 to 1998 and again from 2005 until her appointment to the Court of Appeals. She worked in private practice in the years between her times on the bench.

Judge Brown joins Judges Nancy H. Vaidik and Margret G. Robb to complete the court's Fifth District, which draws a judge from each of the court's first three geographical districts. She will serve on the bench as the Fifth District's judge from the southern part of the state, and will face a retention vote during the first statewide general election after she has served for two full years.