05

 By Marilyn Odendahl

The Indiana Citizen

January 5, 2024

State Rep. Ryan Hatfield, one of the few lawyers in the Indiana General Assembly, joined the growing list of Hoosier lawmakers leaving the legislature by announcing Thursday that he will not seek reelection this year.

The Evansville Democrat (pictured above) said in a statement that he will, instead, be running for Vanderburgh County Circuit Court judge in 2024. As part of his announcement, Hatfield highlighted that over 70 local attorneys are supporting his candidacy for the bench.

Hatfield will be running to replace current Circuit Court Judge David Kiely who is retiring at the end of this year.

“Serving as Circuit Court Judge provides a unique opportunity to directly contribute to the fair and just resolution of legal matters that impact the lives of individuals and families in our community,” Hatfield said in his statement. “This is why I am excited to announce I will run for Vanderburgh County Circuit Court Judge. This decision to run for Judge is deeply personal for me, driven by a profound commitment to fostering a legal system in Vanderburgh County that reflects the values and needs of our community.”

Hatfield has been representing House District 77, which includes most of Evansville, since 2016. Currently he is the House assistant minority leader and is the ranking member on the House Judiciary and Employment, Labor and Pensions committees.

House Democratic Caucus Leader Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, said Hatfield used his legal expertise to help Hoosiers and has become a trusted adviser and friend to House Democrats.

“Ryan’s ability to break down and analyze pending legislation always helped our caucus and the full House better understand the implications of a bill,” GiaQuinta said in a statement. “The loss of Ryan Hatfield as a state representative is a loss for Evansville, the Indiana House of Representatives and all Hoosiers.”

Hatfield is joining a growing list of longtime legislators who have decided not to run for another term.

In 2023, Republican Reps. Randy Lyness, Denny Zent, Jerry Torr, Donna Schaibley and Bob Cherry, along with Republican Sen. John Crane, all said they would not be seeking reelection in 2024. Also, since the end of the last session, Republican Reps. Ann Vermillion and Randy Frye, Republican Sens. Chip Perfect and Jon Ford, and Democratic Sen. Eddie Melton have all left.

Hatfield said he was honored to have served in the General Assembly.

“Serving the people of Evansville as their State Representative in the Indiana General Assembly has been one of the great honors of my life,” he said in his statement. “I want to thank the constituents of House District 77 for allowing me to be their voice at the Statehouse since 2016. During my time in the legislature, I was proud to work on improving health care, expanding broadband, and an array of issues directly impacting Hoosiers.”

A graduate of Purdue University, Hatfield earned a J.D. degree at Southern Illinois University School of Law.

Prior to joining the legislature, Hatfield served as a deputy prosecutor for Vanderburgh County. He secured one of Indiana’s first convictions alleging Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Also, he was active in the Vanderburgh County Treatment Court and Veterans Court, helping to rehabilitate drug-addicted offenders.

Dwight Adams, a freelance editor and writer based in Indianapolis, edited this article. He is a former content editor, copy editor and digital producer at The Indianapolis Star and IndyStar.com, and worked as a planner for other newspapers, including the Louisville Courier Journal.