Indiana Voters to Decide Retention of Three Judges

Residents will vote on whether to retain appellate and tax court judges this November 3, 2026.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a monumental silhouette of the Indiana State Capitol dome, symbolizing judicial retention. — Indiana voters will decide the retention of three appellate and tax court judges during the general election on November 3, 2026. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe state judges should be subject to public retention elections in your area?

Indiana voters will determine the futures of three statewide judges during the general election held on November 3, 2026. This ballot includes members of the Indiana Court of Appeals and the Indiana Tax Court.

Why it matters

Retention elections allow the public to confirm or remove judicial appointees after their initial term. These votes serve as a primary mechanism for judicial accountability within the state legal system.

State law requires judges to face retention elections during the first general election after their initial seating and every 10 years thereafter. Voters decide the retention of each judge by a simple majority vote.

The players

Mary DeBoer

She serves as a judge on the Indiana Court of Appeals following her appointment in 2024.

Paul Felix

He has served as a judge on the Indiana Court of Appeals since July 2023.

Justin McAdam

He is the current judge of the Indiana Tax Court and began his service in September 2023.

The details

The ballot features Indiana Court of Appeals judges Mary DeBoer and Paul Felix alongside Indiana Tax Court judge Justin McAdam. These jurists began their current terms of service between 2023 and 2024.

Paul Felix began his service on the court in July 2023.
Justin McAdam began his service on the tax court in September 2023.
Mary DeBoer was appointed to the appellate court in 2024.
The midterm elections occur on November 3, 2026.

Political Context

This election operates under Indiana's merit selection system for appellate judges, which replaces partisan campaigns with retention votes. Opposition to this system often centers on calls for more transparent judicial review or direct public input before the initial appointment process.

Citizens will have the opportunity to directly impact the composition of the state's high courts on November 3, 2026. This vote determines which jurists will continue their 10-year terms overseeing state legal and tax matters.

The takeaway

Voters should review the judicial records of DeBoer, Felix, and McAdam to make an informed decision on the retention ballot. These elections represent the primary opportunity for the public to exercise oversight of the state judiciary.