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IRTL-PAC is urging Indiana voters to vote NO on the retention of five of the six judges that will appear for retention on Indiana ballots this fall. Cursory review of judicial records reveals that the judges opposed by the IRTL-PAC have been directly involved with decisions that undermine traditional family values and betray a liberal judicial bias.
In addition, IRTL-PAC condemns current rules from the Indiana Judicial Qualifications Commission that prevent judicial candidates from responding to candidate surveys, leaving voters completely in the dark on election day.
“Indiana voters are being asked about the retention of judges they know nothing about, thanks to what we believe is an unconstitutional infringement of the free speech rights of judicial candidates and the right of voters to receive this information,” states IRTL PAC chairman Mike Fichter. “The system is stacked against the voters and protects judges with judicial philosophies most voters would find objectionable if they only knew the facts.”
Among judges up for retention votes,
Supreme Court Justice Frank Sullivan, Jr. (Indiana Supreme Court ) – wrote the majority opinion that expanded taxpayer funding for abortions in Indiana through Medicaid.
Appointed by Evan Bayh
Opposed by IRTL-PAC
Judge Edward Najam, Jr.(Indiana Court of Appeals, First District) – wrote the majority opinion in a ruling that Indiana parents may not be wrongful death suits for the death of unborn child, regardless of whether the child is viable or not. However, Judge Najam
testified in the Indiana General Assembly in favor of the Child Wrongful Death Act to include unborn, viable children within its coverage.Judge Najam also wrote a diseenting opinion
Judge Najam wrote a dissenting opinion in the case of In Re: Infant Girl W, 845 N.E.2d 229 (Ind. App. 2006) concerning the right of two unmarried women to adopt a child, writing,
"The Adoption Act neither authorizes nor permits a joint petition for adoption by unmarried petitioners. I would hold that Indiana law does not allow an unmarried couple, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation, to file a joint petition to adopt a minor child."
Appointed by Evan Bayh
Endorsed by IRTL-PAC
Judge Ezra Friedlander (Indiana Court of Appeals, Second District) – wrote the majority opinion in a ruling recognizing parental rights of same sex couples.
Appointed by Evan Bayh
Opposed by IRTL-PAC
Judge Terry Crone (Indiana Court of Appeals, Third District) – ruled that Planned Parenthood need not deliver documents on minors to the attorney general in the AG’s investigation into whether Planned Parenthood is properly reporting child sexual abuse in Indiana.
Appointed by Joe Kernan
Opposed by IRTL-PAC
Judge Patricia Riley (Indiana Court of Appeals, Fourth District) – ruled to allow same sex orientation should have no bearing on parental custody, supported same sex adoption in Indiana, and overturned a court order barring divorcing parents from exposing their child to Wiccan satanic practices.
Appointed by Evan Bayh
Opposed by IRTL-PAC
IRTL-PAC is still researching the judicial rulings of Judge James S. Kirsch (Indiana Court of Appeals, Second District).
Appointed by Evan Bayh
Opposed by IRTL-PAC
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