Sheila A. Carlisle
Sheila A. Carlisle was a judge of the Marion County Superior Court in Indiana. She left office on December 31, 2022.
Carlisle ran for re-election for judge of the Marion County Superior Court in Indiana. She won in the retention election on November 6, 2018.
Elections
2018
Marion County Superior Court, Carlisle's seat
Sheila A. Carlisle was retained to the Marion County Superior Court on November 6, 2018 with 80.4% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
80.4
|
159,778 | ||
No |
19.6
|
38,882 | |||
Total Votes |
198,660 | ||||
|
|
Selection method
- See also: Partisan election of judges
The 196 judges of the Indiana Superior Courts are generally chosen in an identical manner. Judges are elected in partisan elections to six-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to serve additional terms.[1]
Some exceptions apply:
- Superior court judges from Allen County are chosen in nonpartisan elections.
- Superior court judges from the counties of Lake, Marion, and St. Joseph are appointed by the governor from lists of potential candidates submitted by the local nominating commissions (this excludes judges of Lake County's county division superior court, who must be elected). Judges then stand for retention in the first general election taking place two or more years after their appointment.[1]
Qualifications
Though some counties have imposed additional qualifications, a judge serving on these courts must at least be:
- a circuit resident and
- admitted to practice law in the state.[1]
2012
Carlisle was an incumbent candidate for the Marion County Superior Court.[2]
There were twenty candidates in all for the court, sixteen of whom were incumbents. Voters were instructed to select ten candidates on the ballot. The complete list of candidates can be seen here. All of the candidates for won election, as twenty candidates were running for twenty open spots on the court.[3]
- See also: Indiana judicial elections, 2012
Noteworthy cases
Bei Bei Shuai vs. State of Indiana
Carlisle handled the case of Bei Bei Shuai, an Indianapolis woman who was accused of feticide after her unsuccessful suicide attempt allegedly resulted in the death of her unborn child. Prosecutors contended that Shuai, in December 2010, had killed the baby she was carrying by eating rat poison in an attempted suicide.[4]
The case was controversial as reproductive rights groups argued that, if Shuai was found guilty of murder, it could set a precedent for prosecuting pregnant women for smoking, drinking or other activities deemed harmful to their unborn child.[5]
Judge Carlisle initially refused to grant bail to Shuai. On appeal, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled that Shuai should be granted bail, but that she should still be prosecuted for the murder charges. Shuai was released on bond in May of 2012.[6][7][4]
Judge Carlisle ruled on January 18, 2013 that a medical examiner's opinion that the death was, in fact, caused by rat poison was "unreliable". She found that Dr. Jolene Clouse, when performing the autopsy, didn't consider other possible causes for the infant's death.[4]
On August 2, 2013, Shuai plead guilty to a misdemeanor count of criminal recklessness. This was part of a plea deal with which she was sentenced to 178 days in jail--the amount of time she had already served. According to Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry, "There were evidentiary rulings that would have made our case difficult to proceed. We felt it was appropriate to resolve it with the plea and with some acknowledgement of culpability and everyone can move on."[5]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Indiana," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Indiana.gov, "Judge of the Superior Court," accessed November 1, 2012
- ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, "Election Results," accessed November 7, 2012
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Associated Press, "Judge: Death link to rat poison: 'unreliable'," January 23, 2013
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Huffington Post, "Bei Bei Shuai Pleads Guilty In Baby's Death," August 2, 2013
- ↑ Justia, "Indiana Court of Appeals opinion: Bei Bei Shuai vs. State of Indiana," February 8, 2012
- ↑ NPR, "Woman Who Tried To Commit Suicide While Pregnant Gets Bail," May 18, 2012
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
