The five finalists to fill an upcoming judicial vacancy in the St. Joseph County Superior Court were announced on Tuesday.

The nominees are:


• Andrew Gammage, a managing partner at Berger & Gammage


• Steven Hostetler, a partner at Thorne Grodnik, LLP


• Elizabeth Hurley, Magistrate Judge for the St. Joseph Circuit Court


• Mark James, associate at Anderson, Agostino & Keller, public defender


• Jeffrey Sanford, sole practitioner, deputy public defender, South Bend deputy city attorney

A vacancy on the court will open on June 3 when Judge Michael Scopelitis retires. Applications to fill the position became available in February, and after rounds of interviews and deliberations the list of finalists was created.

Now, the five finalists’ names will be submitted to Governor Mike Pence who will make the ultimate decision as to which candidate will fill the position. Pence has 60 days to make his appointment to the superior court, in the event that he fails to do so, the Chief Justice of Indiana will decide.