- Montgomery County Superior Court I Judge
- Races
- Political Parties
- Republican
- Status
- Incumbent
- Elections
Heather Barajas
• Name and position sought: Heather Barajas, seeking re-election as Judge of Montgomery Superior Court 1
• Residence: Crawfordsville
• Community Involvement: Crawfordsville City Council, Crawfordsville Deputy Mayor, Board of Directors of Montgomery County Community Foundation, Montgomery County Economic Development, Crawfordsville Utility Service Board, Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, Montgomery County Youth Service Bureau, Crawfordsville Strawberry Festival Committee, Tri Kappa
• Party Affiliation: Republican
Education/Profession:
• Education: Doctor of Jurisprudence, Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis, 2002; bachelor’s degree, Ball State University, 1996 • Occupation, current political office (if applicable): I am currently the Judge of Montgomery Superior Court 1, finishing my first term
Position statement 1:
• What specific experiences and skills qualify you to be a Superior Court Judge? I went to law school at night while working full-time during the day. At the same time, I was a wife and mother and an active member of the community. I have been a licensed attorney for 18 years, having served three years as a deputy prosecutor, nine years as a public defender and am in my sixth year as judge. I have handled criminal cases from every side of the equation. While in private practice, I handled a large caseload of civil and domestic cases in addition to representing criminal defendants. I have held the position for nearly six years and am honored and humbled to serve the community as Judge. Our justice treatment programs, the Drug Court and the JCAP program, have received state and national recognition.
Position statement 2:
• What actions will you take to improve the judicial system within Montgomery County? In my time on the bench, we have tripled the size of the Montgomery County Drug Court Treatment Program and have created the Jail Chemical Addictions Program. I would like to develop transitional housing options to assist people in the criminal justice system in their quest for recovery.
Position statement 3:
• What do you want voters to know about you before they cast their ballot? I remind myself regularly that I have been blessed to have this job – a job I respect and love. I strive to be fair and respectful to all who come into contact with our court system.
Position statement 4:
• What is the greatest concern that you hear from local citizens? The vast majority of concerns involve addiction and substance abuse. It is not only a burden to the criminal justice system; the problem extends into the schools, medical facilities, housing and all areas of our economy. People are educating themselves about addiction and recovery. They want to know what they can do to help fix the problem.