Judge, Dean A. Colvin filed his declaration for candidacy for Judge of Marshall Superior Court No. 2, on the Republic ballot in the office of Deb VanDemark, Clerk of the Marshall County Courts for re-election in the 2020 primary election on Friday. Judge Colvin previously filed his declaration with the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office as he is required to do so by law.
In filing his declaration with the Clerk of the Courts’ Colvin stated’ “it has been my distinct honor and privilege to have served the citizens of Marshall County as Judge of the Marshall Superior Court No. 2 and Marshall County Court for the last thirty three years; if re-elected, I look forward to continue to serve the citizens of our community in a fair, impartial manner, with an open and honest judiciary that instills confidence in those who use the services of the court. In the challenging world we live,it is important that a judge apply the principles of law with fairness and in light of the circumstances presented in each case. I believe my training, experience, and personal approach to the thousands of issues brought before the court over the last three decades, has served me well as Judge. I believe my experience and performance has earned the confidence of citizens to privilege me again to serve as your judicial officer.”
Judge, Colvin began 34 year career as Judge in 1986 when he was appointed Judge of the Marshall County Court, in 1986 rising demands for court services were needed for a second full-time general jurisdiction court;Judge Colvin successfully petitioned the Indiana legislature to elevate the County Court to a court of general jurisdiction, now known as Marshall Superior Court No. 2. During his tenure, Judge Colvin has spearhead efforts to modernize the court system in handing the flow of thousands of business transactions and cases flowing through the court to modernize the courts with the latest technology. In 1989 Judge Colvin pioneered the automation of transactions between the Indiana Bureau of Motor vehicles by applying the latest technology to formulate CATS (computer automated traffic system), an automated system that allows direct and nearly instantaneous records transfer between the courts and Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles cutting the processing of those records from weeks to a few days. The CATS system and subsequent generations are still utilized the State of Indiana’s court case management system. The Indiana General Assembly recognized Judge Colvin’s efforts in improving the efficiency of the courts in passing House Resolution 17 of that same year.
Judge Colvin has continued his interest in state wide-issues impacting the courts through his service on the Board of Directors of the Indiana Judicial Conference, where he was elected as Chief Judge of the Fifth District of the Indiana Judicial Conference consisting of Marshall, Elkhart, and Kosciusko County Courts, and American Judges Association Board of Managers and a past member of the Board of Directors of the Indiana Judges Association. Judge Colvin currently serves as President of the Marshall County Community Correction’s Board and as a member of the Saint Joseph Health System Board Plymouth Campus.
Judge, Colvin has continued his judicial education, participating and completing hundreds of hours of judicial training including the Indiana Judicial College and University of George Mason Law School, Law and Economics program and the National Judicial College.
Judge Colvin’s public service career began as a Special Deputy with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, Lake Maxinkuckee Safety Patrol, Law Enforcement Officer, Plymouth Police Department, Investigator with the Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office and as a Deputy Attorney with the Indiana Attorney General Office.
Judge Colvin graduated from Plymouth High School, Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, Indiana University (South Bend Campus) Valparaiso University School of Law.
Content provided. Photo by Jim Master of the Pilot News
