John O. Feighner was recently elected to a 3-year term as an attorney member of the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission and the Indiana Judicial Qualifications Commission. Feighner has served two prior 3-year terms, 2003-2005 and 2009- 2011. Sherrill Wm. Colvin has also served one term on both Commissions, 2006-2008.
Feighner and five other members of the Commission and the Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court interviewed eight lawyers and judges who have applied for a vacancy on the Indiana Court of Appeals on June 10, 2015. The Commission recommended three applicants to Governor Pence who then selects the person to serve as a judge on the Indiana Court of Appeals.
This merit selection process was adopted by the Indiana legislature and the voters of Indiana in 1972, as the Indiana Constitutional method for merit selection of appellate judges in Indiana.