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Saturday, October 30, 2004
Indiana Courts - Six judges up for retention in Lake County
The Munster Times reports today: "Six judges up for retention: Danikolas faces disciplinary charges after election." Some quotes:
A veteran Lake Superior Court judge will face the voters Nov. 2 during the greatest crisis of his career.Judge James Danikolas, who sits in Gary, doesn't have a political opponent to fear in his bid to remain on the bench until 2010. But two days after the election he will have to stand before a tribunal of fellow judges on disciplinary charges that could result in his removal from office.
Traditional politics is out of order for Danikolas and five Superior Court criminal and civil judges on the ballot. They are appointed through a merit selection system designed to be independent of party politics. The governor appoints them. No one else can run for that office during a probationary period of two to four years. The voters chose either to retain or reject them.
Voters have a similar choice with Civil Division Judges William E. Davis of East Chicago, John R. Pera of Crown Point, Robert A. Pete of Hammond and Diane Kavadias-Schneider of Hammond, and Criminal Division Judge Thomas P. Stefaniak of Crown Point. Those receiving more than 50 percent of the vote win six new years in office. The losers are replaced by new gubernatorial appointees. * * *
The Indiana Judicial Commission sent notice Tuesday it is alleging Danikolas committed judicial misconduct when he fired former Magistrate Kris Costa-Sakelaris last May 1 over a dispute from a Jan. 31, 2001, child support hearing when Sakelaris jailed a man for failure to make child support payments and submit documentation of his assets.
Danikolas released the man five days later without notice or a hearing. The Indiana Supreme Court issued a public reprimand to Danikolas over the incident. Danikolas fired Sakelaris the following week on grounds she was disloyal to him.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on October 30, 2004 07:34 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts