Circuit court judges are responsible for varied legal cases in Monroe County and serve six-year terms. Here are the five candidates running to be on the Monroe County Circuit Court bench. Information was compiled through interviews and candidates’ websites.
Division III
Alphonso Manns (D)
Manns said in a written statement that he is a veteran of both the United States Army and the U.S. Navy reserve. Manns said he is active in the Bloomington community. He has served on the executive board of Monroe County Bar Association, Monroe County NAACP and Cry of the Children Inc.
“I have practiced law for over 33 years in state and federal courts, including civil and criminal cases,” Manns said in the statement. “My career has been a path to knowledge, experience, wisdom and justice.”
Kenneth Todd (R)
Originally from Rush County, Ind., Todd has served on the bench in Monroe County for 36 years. Todd is a veteran of the U.S. Air force, in which he served as an attorney. Todd said his long-time service on the bench qualifies him for another term at Division III.
“I do have quite a substantial body of work in which people can judge me in the performance of my duties here,” Todd said. “I have an extended record of experience which lends it self well to the job.”
Division IV
Elizabeth Cure (D)
Cure, who is finishing her first term as Division IV judge, is running unopposed. A 1973 alumna of IU, Cure worked as a teacher in Indianapolis and Mexico before beginning her legal career.
“I always wanted to be a judge,” Cure said. “I thought I would be good at it. I have a variety of different life experiences.”
Cure has an advanced degree in theoretical linguistics in addition to her law degree. Cure also said she can speak several languages.
Division VIII
Valeri ?Haughton (D)
Incumbent Division VII judge Haughton is seeking her second term on the bench in Monroe County. Haughton earned her law degree at the University of Iowa. Before her career in law, Haughton worked as a mental health counselor.
Cure said she should be re-elected because of her experience working as both a prosecutor and as a defense lawyer, as well as her experiences in mental health work.
“I was exposed to, of course, a whole range of people of different backgrounds and socioeconomic backgrounds,” Haughton said of her career as a mental health counselor.
Haughton said in addition to her legal knowledge, her background has given her experience with people and resolving conflicts.
Karen Wyle (R)
Originally from Connecticut, Wyle is a graduate of Harvard Law School. Wyle currently works as an appellate attorney at the Karen A. Wyle Law Office in Bloomington.
Wyle said her experience working on appeals qualifies her for the Monroe County bench.
“I have developed some ideas about how the process can be less frustrating, less confusing, less messy and less expensive than it otherwise might be,” Wyle said. “And I think that’s a worthy goal, and that is a lot of what has inspired me to get into this campaign.”
Wyle said if she is elected judge, she would streamline the court process to make it more efficient.
