The Lake County Judicial Nominating Commission announced three nominees to fill a judicial vacancy. The Commission selected the following nominees:
Magistrate Lisa A. Berdine – Lake Circuit Court
Judge Gina L. Jones – Town Court of Merrillville
Magistrate Michael N. Pagano – Lake Superior Court
The three nominees will be submitted to Governor Eric Holcomb for consideration. He will name a superior court judge. Under state law, the Commission must submit to the governor a list of three candidates with written evaluations of each candidate. Upon receiving the list of nominees, Governor Holcomb has 60 days in which to make an appointment to the Lake Superior Court.
A vacancy on the Lake Superior Court occurred in July 2019 when Judge John R. Pera retired.