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The Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission selected three finalists Monday for an upcoming vacancy on the Court of Appeals of Indiana that will open up when Judge Margret Robb retires.
Hamilton Circuit Judge Paul Felix and attorneys Stephanie Bibbs and Justin Forkner are under final consideration to succeed Robb.
They were selected as finalists after the JNC interviewed nine candidates for the position.
Here’s a recap of the Monday afternoon interviews:
Marion Superior Court Judge Marc Rothenberg had applied to the Court of Appeals previously when Justice Derek Molter moved up to the Indiana Supreme Court.
Rothenberg highlighted the passion and attentiveness he puts in all things he does.
“I got through elections. I got through administrative things. I testified in front of house representatives in front of senators. I built a half a billion-dollar building on my own. But I didn’t know how to do that. I’ve worked hard,” Rothenberg said. “I want to be a catalyst to innovate. I want to create. I want to bring to life and to what it means to be able to judge.”
He also noted his most recent work with a new rule change allowing cameras in courts.
Rothenberg said that has been a big project figuring out how to get everything to work smoothly before the rule officially goes into effect.
“I think the more the public sees the business we do, the more they’ll value business,” Rothenberg said.
When asked about opinions he has read, Rothenberg noted he enjoys the footnotes of opinions.
He also said he is the type of judge that likes to listen to attorneys to understand where they are coming from and to educate himself on the issue as well.
Elizabeth Green, an attorney with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, had also applied for the COA position in 2021.
She spoke a lot about how she has been a mentor for many people.
“I would say that mentorship for me has been pretty organic,” Green said.
Green has been involved with mentoring with the Indianapolis Bar Foundation and other programs.
Anthony Patterson asked Green what she would do if she weren’t practicing law.
Green said she would do something with art.
She talked about how she loves the path she has chosen, but it wasn’t something she’d go into right away.
Green said she took a gap between undergraduate school and law school and has enjoyed what she does.
“As attorneys we’re given a very powerful opportunity to really impact people,” Green said.
Andrew Falk with the state’s Public Defender Commission said in his role, he has gotten to see the inside of prisons and that it is important other judges get the chance to do so as well.
“I think the more judges can get into [prisons] and see what’s going on to see how it works and have that experience, it humanizes aspects of it as much as understanding it,” Falk said.
He noted that being able to do so humanized the process for him.
JNC Chair Loretta Rush asked Falk what’s a question he would ask the country’s Founding Fathers.
Falk responded that he would ask them what books or readings influenced their decisions.
One thing Falk is proud of is being involved with a wellness activity with law students where he sits down with students, they get to better understand his work and he can offer advice to them.
Justin Forkner with the state’s Office of Judicial Administration noted his time serving in the Indiana Army National Guard and U.S. Army and how it is important to have a veteran on the bench.
“The more varied the experiences we bring to that process, the better we all are,” Forkner said.
Forkner said he believes in “showing up, speaking up and shaking up” in his work.
“This can be challenging for some folks, but we need someone to come in and say we need someone to come in and push,” Forkner said.
When asked if there was anything he would change in his career, Forkner said no because he is happy where he is today but that he would like to relive his days in the Army again.
In his closing remarks, Forkner said the appellate judges have to work as a team and collaborate, something he is prepared to do.
“It is a critical role and deserves nothing less than the best we can give it. I am ready for that responsibility. I’m excited by the challenge and to hit the ground running,” Forkner said.
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