JUDGE KIM HALL
Judge Kim Hall is now in his 20th year serving the Starke Circuit Court, 44th Judicial Circuit, State of Indiana. He was first elected in 2004, and began serving a six year term on January 1, 2005, and is currently in his fourth consecutive term of office.
He first served the public in the position of Prosecuting Attorney, beginning in 1987. He was elected to that position five (5) times and served in that capacity for eighteen (18) years. While representing the State of Indiana in Starke County, he was elected by all Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys to serve a term as Chairman of the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council, representing them at the Indiana State Capitol as the legislature considered new criminal laws.
In 2023, Judge Hall was invited to serve as a member on the newly created Innovation Committee, and in 2024, is one of seven Indiana Judges working with experts in various fields including university professors, public defenders, prosecutors, etc. to explore technological advances to improve judicial efficiency and fairness to participants.
Judge Hall has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Judicial Conference of Indiana.
He is a graduate of the Indiana Judicial College and the Indiana Graduate Program for Judges. He has continued his legal education at the Indiana Supreme Court’s annual Conferences, as well as the National Judicial College. He has served on the faculty at the Indiana Annual Judicial Conference.
In 2018, he represented Starke County at a site visit in Santa Cruz, California, (funded by the Annie Casey Foundation), and met with Judges of the Superior Court of California who have been successfully implementing the national Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative.
STARKE CIRCUIT COURT REFORMS AND PILOT PROGRAMS
COURT REFORM – 2017 TO 2024
Judge Hall has been an advocate for Indiana’s Court Reform, and has promoted the implementation of evidence-based practices throughout Starke County’s criminal justice system. In 2017, Starke County began serving as a Pilot Program in Indiana for Evidence-Based Decision Making and Pretrial Reform. EBDM utilizes empirical evidence and validated data regarding specific terms of criminal sentences that result in reduced recidivism.
Pretrial Reform aims to replace financial bonds with state-of-the-art technology to monitor defendants’ movements and behavior. In lieu of money, the Judge often orders Home Detention, with GPS monitoring, together with conditions requiring substance-abuse counseling, random drug screens, and the pursuit of employment. Goals of this reform are to reduce jail overcrowding, costs to the taxpayers, recidivism, and to promote community safety.
In 2022, Judge Hall created and implemented the Starke Circuit Court Recovery Program. Grant funds have secured professional treatment services, in-house, which are now available to qualified individuals as a term of probation. The goal is to increase the availability and intensity of therapy services, specifically targeting those with a sincere desire to free themselves of their chemical dependency, and to successfully maintain a clean lifestyle.
STARKE COUNTY REGIONAL THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY DRUG TREATMENT
In 2015, Judge Hall worked with the Governor’s Office, the Indiana Legislature, the Indiana Department of Corrections, and the Starke County Sheriff to create the only Therapeutic Community in the state of Indiana operated by the DOC – outside of Indiana prison walls. Judge Hall presented the proposal to the Indiana Governor’s Drug Task Force when they met at the University of Notre Dame. The Task Force endorsed the proposal, which was subsequently accepted by the Governor, and implemented by the DOC.
Starke County hosted an Open House for the Therapeutic Community in July, 2016.
http://starkecountysheriff.com/index.php/2016/07/27/starke-county-therapeutic-community/
Indiana Judges are now able to sentence convicted felons to Purposeful Incarceration in the DOC, by specifically recommending placement in the Starke County RTC.
In addition to intense therapeutic counseling, individuals take classes to earn a High School Equivalency Diploma, work in the Justice Center’s Community FARM Program to grow produce for distribution to local food pantries and nursing homes, and participate in a variety of community service projects. They have received inspirational visits from a former NFL player, high school teachers, a professional musician, a physical trainer, and several former addicts who have successfully achieved and maintained a sober lifestyle.
Participants now receive the most effective drug treatment offered by Indiana, which lasts between 8 and 12 months. Hundreds of individuals have now graduated from the Starke County RTC, and have returned to their families, work, and communities throughout northwest Indiana. Statistics have shown that it is less likely for these graduates to commit crimes upon their release than those released from a prison facility.
The Indiana Department of Corrections and the University of Notre Dame are presently conducting significant studies on the long-term effectiveness of the Starke County RTC on its graduates.
MAGISTRATE MICAH COX
On July 1, 2021, Judge Kim Hall appointed Starke County attorney Micah Cox to begin service as an Indiana judicial officer as the Starke Circuit Court Magistrate.
Magistrate Cox previously served as the Starke County Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney from 2019 to 2021. From 2011 to 2019 he served as a St. Joseph County Deputy Prosecutor responsible for major felony jury trials and was assigned to the County Metro Homicide Unit.
Magistrate Cox graduated from the University of Tennessee and Valparaiso University School of Law. He and his wife, Rachel, and their son, Patrick, live in Starke County and are enjoying the country life.
COURT STAFF
Rachel Meadows 772-9146 Starke Circuit Court Administrator
Amber Strong 772-9191 Administrative Assistant / Court Reporter
Donna Davis 772-9162 Jury Bailiff / Special Judge Administrator
Courtney Corley 772-9189 Administrative Assistant / Deputy Clerk
Caroline Brown 772-9156 Financial Administrator / Court Reporter
Pamela Starkey 772-9122 Small Claims Administrator
Lorie Reading 772-9147 Child Support Administrator / Scheduling
PUBLIC DEFENDERS
Attorney Richard Ballard – Chief Public Defender
Attorney Wendell Goad – Initial Hearing / Bond P.D. (Supreme Court Grant)
Attorney Timothy Lemon
Attorney Blair Todd
Attorney Alex Hoover
COURT SECURITY
Rich Miller 772-9155 Chief
Sam Byer
Richard Beauchamp
Larry Haug
STARKE COUNTY COURT SERVICES
R. Shawn Mattraw – Director / Certified Adult Probation Officer
Donna Brooks – 772-9151 Administrative Assistant
PROBATION DIVISION
http://www.co.starke.in.us/index.php/circuit-court/probation/
Chuck Phillips – Pretrial Services Probation Officer (Supreme Court Grant)
John Novak – Probation Officer / Adults
Abby Columbia – Probation Officer / Juveniles
Megan Johnston – Treatment Specialist / Starke Circuit Court Recovery Program
COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS DIVISION
http://www.co.starke.in.us/index.php/departments/community-corrections/
Kolleen Woods – Certified Adult Probation Officer
Jennifer Strickland – Certified Adult Probation Officer
Sara Molebash – Certified Adult Probation Officer
RJ Duff – Field Officer
COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE – CASA
WEBSITE: http://www.co.starke.in.us/index.php/casa/
Connie Deal – 772-7200 Director
JoAnn Mizansky – 772-7200 Administrative Assistant
Brenda Palmer – Retention Specialist
The Starke County CASA Program has trained volunteers serving the Starke Circuit Court and more than 100 Starke County Children in Need of Services.
You can join them by visiting this link:
http://nc.casaforchildren.org/volunteerinquiry/default.asp?id=11153