Marion County voters this November will decide whether to keep 15 Marion Superior Court judges on the bench for another six years. Voters cast a 'Yes' or 'No' on the ballot to retain each of the judges.
Superior court judges hear criminal, civil and family cases.
The governor appoints these judges and they do not run in contested elections. The retention vote is a voters' only direct say in who is a judge in the county superior court system.
In 2024, voters retained all 18 judges on the ballot with at least 67% of the vote.
How judges get on the ballot
Marion Superior Court judges serve six-year terms. The governor appoints them from three nominees chosen by the Marion County Judicial Selection Committee.
A new state law changed how judges make it to the ballot for retention in 2026. Now a 14-member committee can keep a judge off the ballot if nine members agree. Before, the panel could only recommend for or against a judge.
Indiana Supreme Court Justice Derek Molter chairs the committee. Its members include appointees of legislative leaders, the two major political parties, four bar associations and two appellate judges.
The committee interviewed 16 incumbents in public in March. It voted one judge, Gary Miller, was not suitable to serve another term.
What Marion Superior Court judges do
Superior court judges hear criminal, civil and family cases, and each court handles a specific docket. For example, Superior Court 9, a family court, hears cases such as divorces, paternity and custody disputes.
Superior Court 21, a criminal court, had 10,616 cases before it in 2024, according to state court data. That included 1,623 new filings. The court held 28 trials.
Judge faces allegations
In September the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications filed three disciplinary charges against Superior Court 9 Judge Geoffrey Gaither, who is on the November ballot.
Gaither's accusations include not promptly setting hearings or ruling on motions from March 2022 to July 2026 and failure to adequately supervise court staff.
A retention election does not have any bearing on the outcome of the judicial discipline process. A judge can be successfully retained but still be subject to discipline by the Supreme Court, according to an Indiana Supreme Court spokesperson.
Judge A. Richard Blaiklock
Blaiklock has been a judge on the Superior Court for 2 years. He received a law degree from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law and has been practicing law in Indiana since 1997.
Judge Marshelle Broadwell
Broadwell has been a judge on the Superior Court for 6 years. She received a law degree from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law and has been practicing law in Indiana since 2001.
Judge David Certo
Certo has been a judge on the Superior Court for 19 years. He received a law degree from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law and has been practicing law in Indiana since 1999.
Judge Angela Davis
Davis has been a judge on the Superior Court for 12 years. She received a law degree from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law and has been practicing law in Indiana since 1995.
Judge P.J. Dietrick
Dietrick has been a judge on the Superior Court for 12 years. He received a law degree from Chicago's John Marshall Law School, now the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, and has been practicing law in Indiana since 1994.
Judge Kurt Eisgruber
Eisgruber has been a judge on the Superior Court for 17 years. He received a law degree from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law and has been practicing law in Indiana since 1995.
Judge Geoffrey Gaither
Gardner has been a judge on the Superior Court for 6 years. He received a law degree from the Howard University School of Law and has been practicing law in Indiana since 1985.
Judge Ryan Gardner
Gardner has been a judge on the Superior Court for 5 years (or 6 years?). He received a law degree from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law and has been practicing law in Indiana since 2004.
Judge Melanie Kendrick
Kendrick has been a judge on the Superior Court for 3 years. She received a law degree from the Wake Forest University School of Law and has been practicing law in Indiana since 2011.
Judge Christina Klineman
Klineman has been a judge on the Superior Court for 12 years. She received a law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School and has been practicing law in Indiana since 2001.
Judge Patricia McMath
McMath has been a judge on the Superior Court for 2 years. She received a law degree from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law and has been practicing law in Indiana since 1987.
Judge Timothy (Tim) Oakes
Oakes has been a judge on the Superior Court for 18 years. He received a law degree from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law and has been practicing law in Indiana since 1991.
Judge James Osborn
Osborn has been a judge on the Superior Court for 17 years. He received a law degree from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law and has been practicing law in Indiana since 1993.
Judge Marc Rothenberg
Rothenberg has been a judge on the Superior Court for 17 years. He received a law degree from the Valparaiso University School of Law and has been practicing law in Indiana since 1998.
Judge Philip Sheward
Sheward has been a judge on the Superior Court for 3 years. He received a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and has been practicing law in Indiana since 2004.
