Your monthly support provides voters the knowledge they need to make confident decisions at the polls. Donate today.
Derek Molter
2022 - Present
2034
3
Derek Molter is a judge of the Indiana Supreme Court. He assumed office on September 1, 2022. His current term ends on December 31, 2034.
Molter ran for re-election for judge of the Indiana Supreme Court. He won in the retention election on November 5, 2024.
Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) appointed Molter to the Indiana Supreme Court on June 10, 2022, to replace Steven David.[1] To learn more about this appointment, click here.
Biography
Molter earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and his J.D. from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.[2]
Following graduation, Molter served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Theresa Springmann, United States District Court Judge for the Northern District of Indiana. He then practiced at Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP in Washington D.C. In 2013, he joined Ice Miller LLP as an associate and later became a partner.[2]
Elections
2024
See also: Indiana Supreme Court elections, 2024
Indiana Supreme Court, Derek Molter's seat
Derek Molter was retained to the Indiana Supreme Court on November 5, 2024 with 69.6% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
69.6
|
1,571,882 | ||
No |
30.4
|
687,028 | |||
Total Votes |
2,258,910 | ||||
|
|
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Molter in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Derek Molter did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Ballotpedia currently provides campaign finance data for all federal- and state-level candidates from 2020 and later. We are continuously working to expand our data to include prior elections. That information will be published here as we acquire it. If you would like to help us provide this data, please consider donating to Ballotpedia.
Appointments
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb (R) appointed Derek Molter to the Indiana Supreme Court on June 10, 2022. Molter succeeded Steven David, who retired on August 31, 2022. Molter was Gov. Holcomb's second nominee to the five-member court.
At the time of the vacancy under Indiana law, midterm vacancies were filled through gubernatorial appointment. The Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission would provide the names of three nominees to the governor, who then would select a justice from that list.[3][4]
State supreme court judicial selection in Indiana
- See also: Judicial selection in Indiana
The five justices on the Indiana Supreme Court are selected through the assisted appointment method. The Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission is responsible for providing the names of three nominees to the governor, who must then select a justice from that list.[5][4] The commission is made up of six voting members from the three geographic districts covered by the Indiana Court of Appeals. Members include three attorneys, elected by attorneys in their respective geographic districts, and three non-attorneys, appointed by the governor. The chief justice or his or her designee serves as an ex officio member of the commission.[4]
Justices serve at least two years following their initial appointment. They must stand for retention at the first statewide general election to remain in office. If retained, justices serve a ten-year term and must stand for retention every ten years after that point to remain in office.[6]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:
- a U.S. citizen;
- an Indiana resident;
- admitted to practice law in the state for at least 10 years or have served as a trial court judge for at least five years; and
- under the age of 75 (retirement at 75 is mandatory).[5]
Chief Justice
The chief justice is selected by the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission from the members of the supreme court and serves a five-year term.[4] In the event of a vacancy, the justice with the longest tenure on the supreme court serves as acting chief justice until the nominating commission fills the position.[4]
Vacancies
If a midterm vacancy occurs on the court, the position is filled as it normally would be had the vacancy occurred at the end of a justice's term. The Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission provides the names of three nominees to the governor, who must then select a justice from that list.[5][4] The new appointee serves at least two years following his or her initial appointment and must stand for retention at the first statewide general election to remain in office.[6] The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
See also
External links
|
Officeholder Indiana Supreme Court |
Footnotes
- ↑ The Lebanon Reporter, "Molter named new Indiana Supreme Court justice," June 13, 2022
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 IN.gov, "Gov. Holcomb Selects Derek Molter to Join Indiana Court of Appeals," August 12, 2021
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, "Method of Judicial Selection: Indiana," accessed Aug. 23, 2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 State of Indiana, "Judicial Nominating Commission Fact Sheet," accessed Aug. 23, 2021
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 National Center for State Courts, "Method of Judicial Selection: Indiana," accessed Aug. 23, 2021
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 State of Indiana, "About the Court," accessed Aug. 23, 2021
Federal courts:
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Northern District of Indiana, Southern District of Indiana • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Northern District of Indiana, Southern District of Indiana
State courts:
Indiana Supreme Court • Indiana Court of Appeals • Indiana Tax Court • Indiana Superior Courts • Indiana Circuit Courts • Indiana City Courts • Indiana County Courts • Indiana Municipal Courts • Indiana Small Claims Courts • St. Joseph County Probate Court • Indiana Town Courts
State resources:
Courts in Indiana • Indiana judicial elections • Judicial selection in Indiana
| ||||||||||
 |
State of Indiana Indianapolis (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
