Porter comments on the governor’s new power to appoint members of the Marion County Judicial Selection Committee

Today, Feb.26, Indiana House Republicans concurred with the Senate changes to House Bill 1033, sending the bill to the governor’s desk. HB 1033 changes the selection process for judges in Marion County by removing local legal groups from their seats on the 14-member Marion County Judicial Selection Committee. The governor will have the power to appoint two replacements. 

State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement: 

“The meddling in Marion County never stops. We lost the power to elect our own judges, and now we’re losing our local voices on the selection committee. This is not happening anywhere else. Whose county is next? 

“Indianapolis is a majority-minority community. The Black community has a different, strained relationship with the criminal justice system. Our Black judges and lawyers have been essential to navigating that relationship. 

“I don’t trust Gov. Braun to understand those intricacies. He’s never walked a day in our shoes. A minority-majority community could end up with a panel of all white judges. It’s judicial Jim Crow.

“Republicans are making it clear: they don’t want anyone to stand up and push back. They have to hold every single ounce of power, replacing IU alumni-elected trustees and now members of our judicial selection committee. Fall in line or get removed and replaced.”