Awards, Celebrations, and Appointments

Harrell receives ABA award

Terry Harrell, JLAP Executive Director, received the Meritorious Service Award from the American Bar Association. The award is presented in recognition of her commitment to advancing judicial, lawyer, and law student well-being. Harrell has served as Chair of the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs, Chair of the ABA Working Group to Advance Well-Being in the Legal Profession, and the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being. She currently serves on ABA CoLAP’s Policy and Well-Being committees and serves on the Advisory Board for the Institute for Well-Being in Law.

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Champions of Justice

The Indiana Judges Association announced the 2021 winners of its Champion of Justice Award:

• Representative Greg Steuerwald, District 40
• Senator Rodric Bray, District 37
• Douglas Huntsinger, Office of the Governor

Historically the award was presented to members of the Indiana General Assembly; this is the first year they have also awarded a member of the executive branch. Since 2006, the IJA has presented the award to Indiana government officials they select for exceptional effort in preserving the ideals of judicial independence and the rule of law.

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Judicial Appointments

Allen County

Beth Webber was selected as the new magistrate of the Allen Superior Court Family Relations Division. Webber previously worked as a solo practitioner in Fort Wayne. She cofounded the Northeast Indiana Center for Child Advocacy in 2004, which works to represent children in child abuse and neglect, delinquency, paternity, and divorce cases. Webber graduated from Ohio University and Indiana University Maurer School of Law.

Clark County

Governor Eric Holcomb appointed Abraham F.A. Navarro and Kyle P. Williams to the Clark County Superior Court.
Since 2016, Navarro served as the chief public defender in Clark County. He previously served as a Clark County judge until rejoining the Floyd County Prosecutor’s Office in 2009. Navarro received his undergraduate degree from Indiana University, where he is now an adjunct professor. He earned his law degree from Vermont School of Law, and in 2019 received his Master of Liberal Arts from Harvard University.
Williams was the chief counsel in region 15 for the Indiana Department of Child Services. He began his work with DCS in 2017 after serving as a private practice attorney. Williams graduated from Indiana University and earned his law degree from the University of Louisville.

Knox County

Knox County’s three judges have chosen Shawna Webster to serve as their new magistrate. Webster will focus on issues involving child support, family law, and small claims, helping the county manage their heavy family-law related caseload. In addition to serving as a family law attorney, she was a guardian ad Litem and is a trained mediator in family law. Webster graduated from Indiana State University and earned her law degree from the University of Dayton.

Marshall County

Governor Eric Holcomb appointed Matthew Sarber to be the judge of the new Marshall Superior Court 3, which opened July 1. Sarber previously served as a public defender and worked in private practice before being named the deputy prosecutor for the Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office. He is a graduate of Manchester University and Valparaiso Law School.

St. Joseph County

Governor Eric Holcomb appointed Cristal Brisco to the St. Joseph County Superior Court. Brisco has served as a magistrate in St. Joseph County since 2018. She previously was with Barnes & Thornburg, the City of South Bend, and Saint Mary’s College at Notre Dame. Brisco graduated from Valparaiso University and earned her law degree from Notre Dame Law School.

Vigo County

Governor Eric Holcomb appointed Kenneth McVey to the Terre Haute City Court. Since 2008, McVey has specialized in social security disability law at Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos, & Newlin. He previously served in the Vigo County Prosecutor’s Office in the Child Support and Criminal Division. McVey graduated from Indiana State University and Case Western Reserve School of Law.

Wayne County

Governor Eric Holcomb appointed April Drake to the Wayne Circuit Court. Drake began work in the prosecutor’s office in 2011 as deputy prosecutor and became chief deputy in 2016. She started her career as a public defender in private practice. Drake graduated from Georgetown College in Kentucky and Indiana University Maurer School of Law.

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Spencer County Courthouse celebrates 100 years

Spencer County Circuit Court celebrated its 100-year anniversary July 10 and dedicated a newly built courtroom.

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