ACJC Magistrate Pappas retires, applications are open to replace him

ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. --Allen Superior Court is looking for a new magistrate in the juvenile division and applications are open.

Magistrate David Pappas, appointed in 2013 to the Family Relations division where he presided over cases at the Allen County Juvenile Center (ACJC), is retiring as of Oct. 30, according to a release from the Allen Superior Court website.

The position is officially called Juvenile and Family Court Magistrate.

Magistrate Daniel Pappas will leave his Allen County post on Oct. 30.

Cases coming before this magistrate will include juvenile delinquency, domestic relations, Title IV-D enforcement and paternity cases.

Although the court is looking for candidates with a range of legal experience, there will be an emphasis on juvenile court matters and domestic relations, a release stated.

Interested applicants have until July 31 at 4:30 p.m. to submit an application which must be sent electronically to george.ijames@allensuperiorcourt.us.

Pappas’ 40-year career in law includes time as a prosecutor and public defender in Allen and DeKalb counties before becoming a magistrate in 2013.

He practiced law for 27 years prior to his appointment on the bench, focused on family, criminal and personal injury law and “built an extensive practice in juvenile delinquency and dependence matters representing parents and children in Children in Need of Services (CHINS) cases and termination of parental right proceedings,” a release stated.

He was a court appointed guardian ad litem, or attorney, for children.

His bio says he graduated from Indiana University in 1981 with a business degree and a law degree from IU-Bloomington in 1986.

Boards and committees where he serves or has served include: Juvenile Advisory Committee of the Judicial Conference of Indiana, the Allen County Bar Association's Family Law Executive Committee and the Allen County Bar Association.

“Beyond the courtroom, he has devoted significant time to children's advocacy, serving on the boards of Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth (SAFY) of America and its Indiana board, and the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) organization,” a release stated.

The court will not release the names of applicants per state code. The annual salary is $146,810. Perks include vacation, sick and personal time plan, paid holidays, state health benefits and the judges’ retirement program.

If a candidate is selected for this position, he or she is expected to accept it, the release states.

Judge Brent Ecenbarger, the presiding juvenile judge in Allen County, praised Pappas for his dedication to the “well being of children and families in our community, first as an advocate in the courtroom and then as a magistrate who brought fairness, patience and legal expertise to every case that came before him.”