McGrath Will Be Kosciusko’s First Female Judge
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews
WARSAW — Karin McGrath is elated about becoming Kosciusko County’s first female judge.
Gov. Eric Holcomb announced on Monday, March 29, that he appointed McGrath of Warsaw to the role of Kosciusko County Superior Court 1 judge. She takes the role following the death of David Cates, who passed away on Dec. 9 after having been reelected weeks earlier to the position.
“It feels terrific to be the first female judge,” McGrath told InkFreeNews.
She said Holcomb called her with the news while she was on lunch Monday.
She said he told her he had done a “lot of looking into the candidate’s backgrounds” and was “quite certain of (her) being more than capable of” filling the role.
She noted the bittersweet circumstances of gaining the position following the unexpected death of Cates who was 61.
“My taking that position means that we lost Judge David Cates,” she said. “There’s always that reminder in the background.”
McGrath said her focus now is on closing up her private practice and transitioning into the role. She has no plans for changes right now to the way Superior Court 1 functions but said once she settles in for awhile she wouldn’t be opposed to “implementing some new projects and procedures” if needed.
McGrath finished second in the Republican primary for Superior Court 3 judge last year. Before starting her own practice last year, McGrath served as a Kosciusko County deputy prosecutor for seven years. She also worked for Rockhill Pinnick law firm.
McGrath has lived in the area for more than 20 years. She’s originally from East Lansing, Mich.
She’s married to Keith and they have two children, Gavin and Calli, and two grandchildren.
Other candidates who sought the job included Kosciusko County Prosecutor Dan Hampton, attorney W. Douglas Lemon and Whitley County Deputy Prosecutor Lindsey Grossnickle.