By MATT THACKER
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels appointed Abraham “Abe” Navarro as judge of the Clark County Circuit Court, effective Monday.
He will replace Judge Daniel F. Donahue, who announced his retirement last week after more than 21 years of service. Thursday is his last day.
Navarro, who lives in Jeffersonville, has served as a deputy prosecuting attorney in the Floyd County Prosecutor’s Office since 2002 and as an adjunct faculty member at Brown Mackie College since April 2007.
“I can’t describe the feeling,” Navarro said by phone this morning. “It was wonderful.”
He said in his time in the Floyd County Prosecutor’s Office, he has worked on everything from minor infractions and misdemeanors to major felonies.
“What I want to do is review the court docket and see how it has been produced,” he said. “I’m not saying I’m going to run it like a machine. I’m just saying I want to make sure it’s running as smoothly as possible.”
Navarro graduated from Indiana University and received his law degree from Vermont Law School. He is a member of the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute board of trustees.
“Navarro is young, bright, energetic. He is well thought of in the community, and he has served in the Floyd County Prosecutor’s Office with distinction,” said Brad Rateike, spokesman for the Office of the Governor. “We looked at the professional qualifications and character and reputation in the community.”
Donahue was last elected to a six-year term in 2004, but the seat — with Navarro as the GOP candidate — will be up for election in November because of the retirement and appointment.
As of press time, Donahue had not returned a call seeking comment.
