Pence appoints Altice to fill vacancy on Indiana Court of Appeals

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Gov. Mike Pence has appointed a Marion Superior Court judge to fill a vacancy being left on the Indiana Court of Appeals by the retirement next month of Judge Ezra Friedlander.

Pence announced Friday he was appointing Judge Robert Altice to the Appeals Court, saying his extensive work presiding over civil and criminal cases make him qualified for the job. Pence described Altice as “a fair-minded and measured judge.”

Altice has served as a Marion Superior Court judge since November 2000. He previously has been appointed by the Indiana Supreme Court to serve as a special judge in cases outside of Marion County on three occasions.

He also previously worked as a Marion County deputy prosecutor and chief counsel.

Friedlander is retiring after more than 22 years on the bench.