(News release photo provided; previous Appeals on Wheels stop in Indiana)
In Porter County, the Indiana Court of Appeals award-winning civics education outreach program, Appeals on Wheels, made two stops this week, Chesterton High School, then Valparaiso High School. A panel of judges – Judge Elizabeth Tavitas, Judge Mary DeBoer, and Judge Stephen Scheele, who are all from northwest Indiana, heard oral arguments in a case, a different one at each stop. The events are open to the public and the audience can ask questions about the judiciary afterwards, but the judges cannot speak about the specific case. Appeals on Wheels travels to Notre Dame Law School this Monday November 10, 2025, the scheduled panel of judges to include Judge Nancy Vaidik, originally from Porter County, Judge Melissa May, born in Elkhart, and Judge Elizabeth Tavitas. The Court of Appeals of Indiana is the second highest court in the state, hearing appeals from Indiana’s trial courts and some state agencies. The 15 judges of the Court issue over 2,000 opinions per year, a news release said.
