County approves new court for 2006

Monroe County approved the 2006 county budget, most notably including the creation of a new judgeship. \nThe county position lacks the controversy of appointments at the federal level. Like with the two pending federal posts, a judge will be appointed to the new court, though the term ends when elections are held in November 2006.\nThe state apphe creation of two new courts earlier in the year, and the county council voted in favor of the budget for the first of two new courts. The first court will start taking cases in 2006 and the second in 2008. \nThe court budget, as well as the rest of the county budget, must go before the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance for final approval.\nNormally, a judge is elected to serve on a court in Indiana, but when a new court is created, the governor must appoint a judge to serve until the next election. The appointed judge will be sworn in Jan. 1, 2006.\nUnlike at the federal level, this judicial appointment does not have to be confirmed by any legislative body, making the process much less contentious. The Monroe County judgeship differs from that of the federal appointment, in that the Supreme Court chief justice is appointed for life.\nThe governor's office makes applications available to the public, and anyone interested can apply as long as he or she lives in the county and is a member of the state bar in good standing.\nThe application asks for information like education, the nature of one's law practice and financial information, said John Shean, a Bloomington lawyer who plans to apply. The deadline for applications is Sept. 21. \n"It's not like a Supreme Court nominee ... It doesn't ask for your views on the law," Shean said.\nAfter the applications are turned in, the general counsel's office for Gov. Mitch Daniels will interview the candidates and make recommendations to the governor. The governor hopes to have named the candidates by mid to late November, said Daniels, spokeswoman Jane Jankowski. \nAccording to reports, former Monroe County Republicans Chairman John Shean, Vice President of the Monroe County Commissioner Herb Kilmer, former Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Chalfant, Monroe County Circuit Court Commissioner Bret Raper, and former IU law professor at IU Frances Hill are all possible candidates identified by other Republicans. \nRaper has an application but hasn't decided yet if he is going to apply, citing "personal considerations."\nShean resigned his position as the Monroe County Republican chairman so he could seek the judgeship. \nHe felt he needed to resign because he "promised the members of his party that he would not run for office while acting as chairman." \nHe said he it would be "disingenuous" of him to act as chairman and seek the nomination at the same time.\nThe other three noted candidates could not be contacted by press time.