Governor Pence Names Robert Altice as New Court of Appeals Judge

Indianapolis – Governor Mike Pence today announced that Judge Robert Altice has been appointed to serve as the new Court of Appeals judge for the second district, effective September 1, 2015. Altice will fill the vacancy by Judge Ezra Friedlander, who announced his retirement effective August 31, 2015, after spending more than 22 years on the bench.

“Judge Robert Altice’s extensive work in the Marion County judicial system and experience presiding over civil and criminal cases make him a uniquely qualified candidate to serve on the Court of Appeals,” said Governor Pence. “The Court of Appeals serves an important role in the judicial system for the state of Indiana, and I’m grateful to Judge Altice as he carries his work to a higher judicial court. His varied legal experience in both criminal and civil law will serve him well as he continues to serve the people of Indiana as a fair-minded and measured judge.”

Altice has served as a Marion Superior Court Judge since being elected in November 2000. He currently serves as Chair of the Marion Superior Court Civil Term after being appointed to the position in January 2015. Most recently, he has served in Civil Court 5 of the Marion Superior Court system, but has also served as Superior Court 2 judge, where he presided over more than 250 major felony jury trials. During his time as Marion Superior Court Judge, Altice was appointed by the Indiana Supreme Court to serve as a special judge in cases outside of Marion County on three occasions. During his tenure as Presiding Judge, he has also continued the Juvenile Detention Alternatives (JDAI) program, which works to promote positive youth development and enhance public safety.

Altice’s career as a public servant began in Kansas City, Missouri where he rose to Chief Deputy Prosecutor for the Drug Unit.  In 1992, he moved to Indianapolis and practiced in civil litigation before returning to public service as a Deputy Prosecutor in the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office in 1994. He was later promoted to Chief of the Felony Division, where he supervised 35 major felony prosecutors and support staff in the seven major felony courtrooms in Marion County. For a portion of this time, he also acted as Chief Counsel for the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.

Currently, Altice serves on the Ad Hoc Tax Court Advisory Task Force after being appointed by Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush in April 2015. Chief Justice Rush also appointed Altice to the Pro Bono District Council for Indianapolis.  He also serves on the Board of Directors and Civil Benchbook Committee for the Indiana Judicial Conference, and previously on the Conference’s Community Relations Committee. In the past, Altice served on the Super Bowl Legal Subcommittee, on the Martin Luther King Community Development Corporation Board of Directors, and as a member of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis.

Altice has offered remarks regarding the practice of law for several years, including for the Indiana Judicial Conference, the Indianapolis Bar Association, the National Business Institute, the American Bar Association, and Indiana Continuing Legal Education. Altice received his undergraduate degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, his master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of Central Missouri, and his law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Altice is also a graduate of the Indiana Graduate Program for Judges.

Altice currently resides in Marion County with his wife, Kristin. They have two adult children, John and Kathleen.