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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Lake County Judicial Nominating Commission is getting closer to filling two upcoming judicial vacancies in the Lake Superior Court.
After interviewing 17 candidates on Oct. 23, the commission selected five candidates for each of the two vacancies. Among them are magistrates Shaun Olsen and David Urbanski and one senior judge, Michael Pagano, according to a press release from Adam Clay, staff attorney for the Supreme Court Office of Communication Education and Outreach.
Earlier this month, the Indiana Supreme Court appointed Pagano judge pro tempore in Porter Superior Court effective Oct. 16. A judge in that court, Christoper A. Buckley, currently faces disciplinary charges after pleading guilty to operating a vehicle while intoxicated and is not hearing cases.
For the Lake County positions, Gov. Mike Braun now has 60 days to pick one person to fill each of the vacancies, which were created by two judges _ Natalie Bokota and Shelia Moss _ who will retire at the year’s end.
To be nominated, candidates must be licensed to practice law in Indiana, reside in Lake County and be U.S. citizens. If selected, the judges will earn $183,513, according to Clay.
Braun also has about a month to decide who will fill two vacancies in Marion Superior Court, as the nominees were selected in late September. Eight magistrates made the list, including Ross Anderson, Katharine Melnick, Marcia Harper, Terrance Tharpe and Andrew Kobe.
If Braun passes on these decisions, Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush will make the choices.
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