DeBoer hired as new Porter County magistrate
July 18, 2011 11:30 am
By Bob Kasarda
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/duneland/deboer-hired-as-new-porter-county-magistrate/article_3f795e81-9c46-5e17-9663-802d5a4bfae7.html
VALPARAISO - After attempting to help Magistrate James Johnson dig his way out from under a backlog of court cases, Mary DeBoer has been named as Johnson's replacement.
The county's six judges chose DeBoer from 14 applicants, based in part on her experience as a full-time magistrate in Starke County and in helping the court in Porter County, Porter Superior Judge Roger Bradford said.
DeBoer said she is looking forward to getting back to work Aug. 1 on the court's divorce, probate and guardianship cases.
"I really love being on the bench," she said.
The county's judges announced in May that Johnson was resigning, wrapping up a 15-year career on the bench buried beneath an ongoing backlog of cases.
The backlog first came to light in July 2010, at which time DeBoer was brought in to help ease the load. The situation improved for a short time, but Johnson again fell behind.
DeBoer said she served as a full-time magistrate in Starke County during 2005 and 2006. She also had served as a deputy prosecutor there and in Porter County.
She and her husband, David, most recently have been in private practice together.
Applications being accepted for magistrate
June 15, 2011 1:30 pm
By Bob Kasarda
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/duneland/applications-being-accepted-for-magistrate/article_7b50cad9-8710-5f79-b9ce-e080b9381318.html
VALPARAISO - Applications are now being accepted for the position of magistrate of Porter Superior Court 1.
The application form is available in the court administrator's office on the fourth floor of the county courthouse.
A copy of the completed application must be submitted to each of the county's six judges on or before July 8.
A replacement is being sought for Magistrate James Johnson, who has stopped hearing cases and will officially retire Aug. 1.
Johnson had made the news after amassing a large backlog of cases.
Porter County magistrate resigns amid case backlog
By John Scheibel
Posted: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 6:45 pm
http://www.nwitimes.com/mobile/article_fa492759-e4bb-55d6-8099-607d733bd94d.html
VALPARAISO - A Porter County magistrate who had amassed a large backlog of cases has tendered his resignation.
Magistrate James Johnson will stop hearing cases at the end of this week and will officially retire Aug. 1, said Porter Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford, who supervises Johnson. Johnson will use that time to clear the cases, Bradford said.
Johnson's backlog of cases came to light in July 2010 when the courts reported he had 97 cases he had not yet ruled on. A part-time probate commissioner was hired to help clear the backlog.
Bradford on Tuesday said the situation with Johnson's cases had improved for some time, but he had fallen behind again. Bradford did not disclose the number of cases pending currently before Johnson, but he did say it was not as high the 97 cases reported last summer.
Johnson is one of Porter County's two adult magistrates who handle divorce, estate and guardianship cases.
Johnson, 64, is a 1974 graduate of the Valparaiso University School of Law and served as a deputy public defender and deputy prosecutor. He was appointed as Porter County probate commissioner in April 1989 and became a magistrate in 1995.
Bradford said the selection process for Johnson's replacement will be decided at a June 14 meeting of all the Porter County judges.
Porter County magistrate stepping down
By James D. Wolf Jr. Post-Tribune correspondent
May 24, 2011 4:54PM
Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM
http://posttrib.suntimes.com/news/porter/5571828-418/porter-county-magistrate-stepping-down.html
VALPARAISO — Magistrate James Johnson tendered his resignation on Tuesday after serving 22 years on the bench.
The resignation follows a week where the 64-year-old Johnson was gone for an undisclosed illness. His last day is scheduled for Aug. 1.
"I’m not longer able to perform my duties," Johnson wrote in a resignation letter to Porter Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford.
Johnson has a history of heart problems that have led to a caseload backup, necessitating the county judges to assign a probate commissioner to catch them up.
He recently had medical procedures done in January.
Bradford said that there is a backload of cases but "nowhere near what it was before."
Johnson wasn’t available for comment.
The six Porter County judges are responsible for selecting a replacement for Johnson, and they’ll announce a procedure for that after their June 14 meeting.
Johnson will no longer take on new cases as of the end of this week so that he can finish his current caseload by August.
Bradford said if the magistrate finishes one a day, he’ll be done with his caseload before August.
A magistrate usually handles divorce, family law and estate cases. In July 2010, Johnson had about 97 cases backlogged.
Johnson is a 1974 graduate of the Valparaiso University School of Law and has been a deputy public defender and a deputy prosecuting attorney.
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