Articles Posted in INND News

South Bend, Indiana – On behalf of the judges of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio announced that Chanda J. Berta has been selected as the next Clerk of Court effective May 8, 2023.

Ms. Berta joined the Northern District of Indiana in January of 2007 as a law clerk to the late Judge Allen Sharp. Ms. Berta’s long tenure with the court has included serving in the capacities of acting clerk of court, chief deputy, divisional manager, and career law clerk. Before joining the federal judiciary, Ms. Berta worked as an Associate at Hunt Suedhoff Kalamaros LLP, now known as Hunt Suedhoff Kearney LLP. Ms. Berta graduated summa cum laude from DePauw University and received her Juris Doctorate from Valparaiso University School of Law. She is a first-generation college graduate and native to South Bend.

Chief Judge DeGuilio stated, “Chanda is uniquely qualified to serve our district by virtue of her diverse experience as a law clerk to several judges, a practicing attorney, and having held several leadership positions within the Clerk’s Office. She possesses the intellect, work ethic and professional commitment to assist in the effective administration of justice through the critical resources of her office. I know I speak for all our judges when I express my appreciation for her service and welcome her to her new role.”

Chief Judge Theresa Lazar Springmann has announced that she will take senior status starting in January 2021.  She presently presides in the Hammond, Indiana Division.

Judge Springmann was appointed to the bench as a District Judge in June 2003. Prior to then she served as a magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Indiana since 1995.  As of September 2019, she has completed 111 trials during her tenure, which are reported here.

As a result of her announcement,  U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) are seeking applications for qualified individuals to fill the vacancy.  Individuals can access the applicant questionnaire here. Two physical copies of the application must be submitted by December 9, 2019, to Senator Young’s Indianapolis office located at 251 North Illinois Street, Suite 120, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

Hammond, Indiana – Previous United States Assistant Attorney Joshua P. Kolar will fill the vacancy made by Magistrate Judge Paul R. Cherry as Northern District of Indiana Magistrate Judge. Kolar has been an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Hammond since 2007 and was among forty-three applicants for the judgeship. The judges on the court selected Kolar from the five finalists that made it through the Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Committee.

Kolar received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and attended law school at the Northwestern University School of Law. As a magistrate judge, his main duties will include conducting preliminary proceedings in criminal cases and presiding over hearings and trials for civil cases and misdemeanor cases. He may also be requested to handle pretrial motions and attempts to resolve civil matters without trial by the district judges.

South Bend, Indiana – Damon R. Leichty, a partner of Barnes & Thornburg LLC has been nominated to serve as a judge in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. The vacancy to be filled was previously held by Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr. Leichty is the fourth Indiana attorney to be nominated by President Trump to fill vacancies in both Indiana’s Northern and Southern District Courts.

Leichty graduated from Indiana University Maurer School of Law and went on to serve as a law clerk for Miller for two years. He also served on the Federal Local Rules Advisory Committee for the Northern District of Indiana. During his career as a private practice attorney, he has represented clients in complex civil litigation throughout the United States. Leichty also counsels manufacturers on product liability, contracts warranties, and various product development and marketing strategies.

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John E. Martin will replace Magistrate Judge Andrew P. Rodovich in the Northern District of Indiana’s Hammond Division.  Rodovich is retiring from the bench.