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Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Ind. Courts - "Hamilton prosecutor files paperwork to seek circuit court judgeship"

Tania E. Lopez reports in the Indianapolis Star:

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. -- Hamilton County's prosecutor filed Monday to seek the job of circuit court judge.

Prosecutor Sonia Leerkamp's decision to put her name on the Republican ballot came two days before she is expected to settle a disagreement with the County Council -- also all Republicans -- over how she evaluates the employees in her office.

Judge Judith Proffitt announced last week she will not seek re-election, Leerkamp said. Proffitt, who ran as a Republican, did not return calls Monday.

"I found out Friday that Judge Proffitt would not file for re-election, so I thought I'd throw my name in the hat," Leerkamp said. "I've been an attorney for 33 years now, and when I first started as deputy prosecutor, I always had it in the back of my head that I eventually wanted to be judge."

Leerkamp, 60, is in her fourth term as prosecutor. She announced Jan. 18 that she would not run for re-election when her term ends in three years.

In 1993, Proffitt was the second woman to be elected a circuit court judge in Indiana.

County GOP Chairman Charlie White said Carmel City Court Judge Paul Felix and David Najjar, county magistrate, also intend to run for the judgeship as Republicans.

Leerkamp and Felix have faced off before. In 2006, Felix lost the GOP primary for prosecutor to Leerkamp by 143 votes.

Re the dispute between Leerkamp and the County Council, which is essentially a separation of powers issue, see this ILB entry from Dec. 24, 2007.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 5, 2008 01:49 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts