This is the fifty-sixth Court Times article highlighting a member of the Indiana Judiciary
Judge Michael Christofeno was elected to the Elkhart Circuit Court in 2017. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1981 with bachelor’s degrees in pre-professional studies and philosophy and then earned his J.D. from the Valparaiso University School of Law in 1985. “I attended law school because I was very idealistic and I wanted to help people and to stop injustice,” said Judge Christofeno.
What was your childhood like?
I grew up in Osceola, Indiana. My father worked at the Art Mosaic and Tile Company in South Bend for 40 years. My mother was a Home Economics teacher for 43 years at Jimtown High School. I had one younger brother, Jon. My brother was 15 months younger than me, and we were very close.
We grew up in a very loving family, and we were taught to be very self-reliant. We really only had one rule growing up; and that was to do what is right. That lesson has served me very well my entire life—particularly as I serve as judge.
My time before college was very happy—so much so that I did not realize how modest our economic status was until I reached Notre Dame. I learned the value of family while growing up and during college and law school. My father died from lung cancer in 1980, my mother from kidney cancer in 1984, and my brother from melanoma in 1986. My strong relationship with God got me through these most difficult times of my life. It also prepared me and showed me the way to survive the loss of my wife
I consider my childhood to have ended when I did the best thing in my life: marrying Kim. We were blessed with the birth of our sons, Jon and Nick. In 2017, Jon got married, and I now have a granddaughter, Kayla.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job and what brings you joy?
I never feel like I have enough time to be certain that I am doing my job correctly. It is also very daunting and humbling to realize that the decisions I make will affect people who come before me. Determining custody and parenting time for a child that has two parents who are equally loving and qualified to raise the child is especially challenging. I contrast all of this responsibility with the joy I experience when I handle an adoption, a custody, or parenting time matter that improves the life of a child, or a sentence for a criminal offender that actually rehabilitates them and makes their life and the lives of their family better. The joy in being a judge is finding the joy you can bring to others.
What career would you choose if you weren’t already in this field?
While I always wanted to be a judge, I also always loved teaching. If I were not a judge, I would probably be a high school teacher and a wrestling and tennis coach. My mother was a teacher, and she positively influenced many, many students.
Where is your getaway spot, a place where you like to relax?
Superman had his fortress of solitude, and while I am by no means Superman, my home is definitely my fortress. I designed the home, and Kim and I had it built in 1993. It sits on several acres in the country. I definitely use my home as the place where I rest and recharge my battery.
What’s your favorite meal, place to eat, or recipe? Why?
One of my favorite restaurants is a local eatery called Hoppers, located in Goshen. The food is very good and very reasonably priced. I especially like the pork chops, fish, and spareribs. Being from Goshen, I know many people in the restaurant.
What are you looking forward to in the next year or two?
In 2022, I will be the President of the Elkhart County 4-H Fair. I am very excited for this opportunity. I am a 10-year 4-H member in Elkhart County, and I have served as the President of the entity which governs the 4-H program in Elkhart County since 1990. For 18 years, I volunteered my time as the attorney for the Elkhart County 4-H Fair.
Do you have any advice for your colleagues?
Every time I take the bench, I try to remember the advice given to me by Judge Gene R. Duffin. He said, “When you take the bench, remember there is no reason for you to get angry because you always have the last word.” I have found that advice to be extremely helpful in maintaining an appropriate judicial demeanor.
