Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced Richard (Rich) Blaiklock and Marie Kern have been appointed to the Marion Superior Court. Blaiklock will replace Judge Shatrese Flowers who passed away Nov. 5, 2023. Kern will succeed Judge Heather Welch who retires on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024.
Richard (Rich) Blaiklock is a managing partner at Lewis and Wagner. Immediately following law school Blaiklock was an associate at Ice Miller until 2001. Before entering law school, he was a juvenile probation officer in Marion County. Blaiklock emigrated from England in 1978 and became a U.S. citizen in 1991.
Blaiklock received an undergraduate degree from Hanover College and a law degree from Indiana University McKinney School of Law.
Marie Kern is a Magistrate Judge in the Family Division of the Marion County Superior Court. Following law school, she joined the Marion County Public Defender Agency for three years. She continued taking public defender felony cases on a part-time basis once she transitioned into private practice. Since 2014, she has organized a bi-annual Mediation Dat for paternity cases at no-to-low cost for the involved parties.
Kern received an undergraduate degree from Indiana University and a law degree from Indiana University McKinney School of Law.
Blaiklock and Kern will be sworn in as Judges on a date to be determined.