*Survey respondents were asked to comment only upon those candidates with whom they have had direct professional contact within the last four years.  All questions were optional.

Education:
1984 -- Indiana University-Bloomington, B.A., Journalism and Political Science, cum laude. 1996 – Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law

Judicial Experience:
Helen Marchal is running as a candidate for Marion Superior Judge Court after having served the public for more than 15 years. Her civil and criminal trial experience and institutional knowledge of the judicial system make her uniquely qualified for the position.

Significant Legal Experience:
Helen began her career with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO) in 1995 while still in law school. Upon passing the bar, Helen was assigned to the Misdemeanor/D felony Division but was quickly promoted to handle major felony cases. She has prosecuted thousands of cases with hundreds of those resolved by bench or jury trial. Helen briefly left MCPO in 2002 to pursue private practice at a small firm where she focused on first party insurance defense. However, her commitment to public service led Helen to return to MCPO in 2004 as Special Counsel. She was appointed Chief Counsel in 2006 and one year later, became Chief of Staff. In 2010, Helen was appointed by Mayor Greg Ballard to the position of City Prosecutor. In this role, she focuses priorities on innovative, proactive initiatives designed to improve the quality of life for city residents.

Other Legal Involvement:
Helen belongs to the Indianapolis Bar Association, and is a member of Women in the Law and Government Practice sections. Helen is a board member of PACE (Public Advocates in Community Re-entry), a non-profit organization focused on the successful reintegration of former inmates from prison back into the community. She also served as a member of the Annie E. Casey Leadership in Action Program which was charged with creating an empirical review of recidivism costs and causes in Marion County and identifying long-term solutions. Helen has been involved in drafting new law and has testified on numerous occasions before the Legislature in support of changes in the Indiana criminal code. She has presented training to law enforcement, city agencies and corporations on various topics. Helen has also been a speaker at many community functions and has served, on many occasions, as the agency spokesperson to address legal issues with the media.

Personal Statement:
Marion County deserves competent, impartial and experienced judges.  As a candidate for this position, I can imagine no greater honor than to have the support of my colleagues in the legal community.  I believe I have the institutional knowledge, litigation skills and familiarity with our local processes to effectively serve our community.  I have worked very hard over the years to develop a reputation of being fair and reasonable, despite the often adversarial nature of the practice.  I have served in a number of high-ranking positions within government agencies, and as such, have a unique understanding of our local judicial system.