Indiana's judiciary is about to see a new face on its bench as Governor Eric J. Holcomb has tapped Judge Stephen Scheele for a spot on the Indiana Court of Appeals, stepping in for the retiring Judge Terry Crone. In a move that saw little pomp and circumstantial flourish, the announcement came straight from the governor's office, where Holcomb praised Scheele's record, “I’m proud to appoint Judge Scheele, a person with immense integrity and a lifetime of experience, to the Court of Appeals,” the Governor stated, expressing confidence in the judge's commitment to upholding the law and ensuring equality in the Hoosier State.
Not new to the gavel, Scheele has served Lake County Superior Court since 2019 and was previously a Magistrate for the same county's Circuit Court; his undergraduate years spent at the University of Denver before venturing to Indiana University Maurer School of Law for his JD, and since being admitted to the Indiana Bar in 1997, Scheele has built a reputation as a thoughtful leader and a judge with practical courtroom experience, aimed at running his court with both effectiveness and efficiency. Governor Holcomb's choice mirrors a belief in Scheele's capabilities to adapt to the higher court's challenges and continue a legacy of respect and fairness marked by his predecessor Judge Terry Crone.
The honor of the appointment wasn't lost on Scheele himself, who openly acknowledged the weight of the role and his ambitions within it; "My appointment to the Indiana Court of Appeals by Governor Holcomb is a great honor. My goal is to emulate the high respect earned by Judge Terry Crone," Judge Scheele told the State of Indiana. Committing himself to the service of Indiana's judiciary and its citizens, Scheele stands ready to assume his new position, though the official date for his swearing-in and robing ceremony remains on the court's docket to be scheduled.
As the Indiana Court of Appeals gears up for this anticipated transition, eyes will certainly be on Judge Scheele as he assumes a greater mantle, the details of which are expected to be forthcoming from Indiana's judicial branch; the arrival of this seasoned judge to the second highest court in the state signals more than a mere change of personnel but a continuation of a judiciary that prides itself on dedicated service and a staunch commitment to justice. Both the governor's office and the incoming judge appear aligned in their vision of a judiciary steadfast in its principles, and looking ahead, Judge Scheele is poised to don not just robes but the responsibility that comes with interpreting the law on behalf of all Hoosiers.
