Survey Responses - Maricel Driscoll (D), Delaware County Circuit Court Judge Candidate
What is your professional experience?
I have spent the past nine years serving as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office. In that role, I have handled a wide range of criminal cases, advocating for victims, holding offenders accountable, and working to protect public safety in our community.
My experience includes prosecuting complex felony cases, collaborating closely with law enforcement, working with victims and their families through some of the most difficult moments of their lives, and ensuring that cases are handled with fairness, diligence, and integrity. I have extensive courtroom experience, including trials, evidentiary hearings, plea negotiations, and sentencing advocacy.
In addition to my traditional prosecutorial duties, I serve as the Deputy Prosecutor assigned to the Problem Solving Court Committee, which oversees both Drug Court and Veterans Court. I specifically requested this assignment because, as the daughter of a veteran, I feel a deep personal commitment to supporting those who have served our country. In this role, I work alongside judges, treatment providers, and community partners to promote accountability while also addressing the underlying issues that contribute to criminal behavior.
Prior to my time with the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office, I was a Deputy Attorney General with the Indiana Office of the Attorney General. I represented a wide range of state agencies — including the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Department of Correction, FSSA, and many others. That work took me into courtrooms across all 92 counties, safeguarding state resources and advocating for justice on behalf of the people of Indiana.
At the federal level, I’ve litigated in federal bankruptcy courts in both the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, and even in New York City. I also had the honor of arguing a case before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago..
What is your public office experience?
current elected official running for a different office
If applicable, please list offices you have run for or held.
I am currently elected to the Center Township Trustee Board.
What are the specific skills that you bring to the position for which you are running?
The specific skills I bring to the position are rooted in over a decade of courtroom experience, legal analysis, and community-centered service.
First, I bring extensive trial and courtroom experience. As a Deputy Prosecutor, I have handled complex felony cases from charging through sentencing. That experience has sharpened my ability to analyze facts, apply the law carefully, make sound evidentiary rulings, and remain composed under pressure, all essential qualities for a judge.
Second, I bring strong legal research and writing skills. Judges must interpret statutes, apply case law, and draft clear, well-reasoned orders. My daily work requires careful legal analysis and precise advocacy, skills that translate directly to thoughtful and well-grounded judicial decision-making.
Third, I bring sound judgment and impartiality. Prosecutors must evaluate cases objectively, assess credibility, weigh evidence, and determine appropriate resolutions. That balanced decision-making is critical on the bench, where fairness and neutrality are paramount.
Fourth, I bring collaboration and leadership experience. Through my work with Drug Court and Veterans Court, I have worked alongside judges, defense attorneys, treatment providers, and community partners to craft solutions that promote both accountability and rehabilitation. A judge must be able to manage a courtroom effectively while treating everyone with dignity and respect.
Finally, I bring compassion and community awareness. My board service and community involvement have given me a broader understanding of the challenges families face, from substance abuse to mental health to child advocacy. That perspective helps ensure decisions are not only legally sound, but also grounded in real-world impact. Above all, I bring integrity, a strong work ethic, and a deep commitment to justice, qualities that are essential to serving fairly and effectively on the bench.
What are your top 3 priorities if you are elected?
If elected, my top three priorities would be:
1. Fair, Impartial, and Consistent Justice
Every person who enters the courtroom deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. My first priority would be to ensure that decisions are grounded in the law, applied consistently, and free from bias. The integrity of the court depends on fairness, transparency, and maintaining public trust.
2. Access to Justice and Procedural Fairness
I would prioritize making sure that everyone who comes before the court understands the process and feels heard. That includes clear explanations from the bench, respectful treatment of all parties, and ensuring that courtroom procedures are applied consistently and fairly. Courts should be accessible and understandable to the people they serve.
3. Efficiency and Professional Court Management
Justice delayed can be justice denied. I would work to keep the docket moving efficiently while ensuring that every case receives the attention it deserves. That means being prepared, organized, and respectful of litigants’, attorneys’, and jurors’ time while maintaining a professional and orderly courtroom environment. Ultimately, my goal would be to serve with integrity, uphold the rule of law, and ensure that the court remains a place where fairness and justice are a daily practice.
How do your values motivate your run for office?
My decision to run for office is deeply rooted in my core values: integrity, service, fairness, faith in community, and family.
Integrity has guided my career from the very beginning. I believe the justice system only works when those serving in it are honest, principled, and committed to doing what is right, even when it is difficult. That commitment motivates me to seek a role where I can continue to uphold the law independently, ethically, and without bias.
Service is at the heart of who I am. My work as a prosecutor has never been just a profession; it has been a calling to serve the people of this community. I have dedicated my career to standing up for others, being a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves, and ensuring that the law is applied fairly. Running for office is a continuation of that commitment to service.
My family is also central to my decision. My wife and I are raising our children here, in this community. This is not just where I work, it is home. The decisions made in our courts affect the safety, stability, and future of the place where our children are growing up. That gives me an even deeper sense of responsibility. I want to help ensure that the system they see reflects fairness, respect, and accountability.
Fairness and respect for every individual motivate me every day. Every person who enters a courtroom deserves to be treated with dignity and to know they were heard. I believe strongly that justice must be consistent, impartial, and grounded in the rule of law.
Ultimately, my values, shaped by my profession, my service, and my role as a mother raising a family here compel me to step forward. I care deeply about this community, and I am committed to serving it with integrity, compassion, and unwavering dedication.
Key Issues
Please share with us your position on a number of issues that are key for Muncie Resists and describe what actions you would take with regard to them. We recognize that some elected positions may not have a direct role in addressing some of these issues, but if you had an opportunity to have an impact, what would you want that to be?
What have you done and/or what do you commit to doing to support the rights of
a. LGBTQ+ individuals?
Throughout my career, I have been committed to treating every individual who comes into the courtroom with dignity, respect, and fairness — regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. The justice system must apply the law equally to all people, and I firmly believe that equal protection under the law is not optional — it is foundational.
If elected, I will continue to uphold the constitutional rights of every person who appears before the court. A judge’s responsibility is to apply the law impartially and to safeguard the rights of all individuals. I am committed to ensuring that LGBTQ+ individuals — like every member of our community — are treated fairly, respectfully, and in accordance with the law.
b. people with disabilities?
Similar as above, I am committed to ensuring that every person who comes before the court is treated with dignity, fairness, and equal protection under the law — including LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, individuals experiencing poverty, immigrants, and those who are racial or ethnic minorities.
If elected, I will continue to uphold the constitutional rights of every individual and ensure that fairness, accessibility, and respect guide every proceeding in my courtroom.
c. people experiencing poverty?
Similar as above, I am committed to ensuring that every person who comes before the court is treated with dignity, fairness, and equal protection under the law — including LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, individuals experiencing poverty, immigrants, and those who are racial or ethnic minorities.
If elected, I will continue to uphold the constitutional rights of every individual and ensure that fairness, accessibility, and respect guide every proceeding in my courtroom.
d. immigrants?
Similar as above, I am committed to ensuring that every person who comes before the court is treated with dignity, fairness, and equal protection under the law — including LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, individuals experiencing poverty, immigrants, and those who are racial or ethnic minorities.
If elected, I will continue to uphold the constitutional rights of every individual and ensure that fairness, accessibility, and respect guide every proceeding in my courtroom.
e. people who are racial or ethnic minorities/minoritized individuals?
Similar as above, I am committed to ensuring that every person who comes before the court is treated with dignity, fairness, and equal protection under the law — including LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, individuals experiencing poverty, immigrants, and those who are racial or ethnic minorities.
If elected, I will continue to uphold the constitutional rights of every individual and ensure that fairness, accessibility, and respect guide every proceeding in my courtroom.
What have you done and/or what do you commit to doing to support voter access? (This might include your position on vote centers, polling hours, voter IDs, signature matching, the SAVE act, etc.)
I have included information regarding vote centers on my campaign literature to ensure that voters are aware of what vote centers are and how they operate. I will continue to commit to educating all individuals about vote centers and continue to strive to encourage all registered voters to participate and get out to vote.
In recent months, federal agencies have overstepped the power of local and state governments. In what contexts would you support resistance by local officials?
As a judicial candidate, it would not be appropriate for me to take positions on potential conflicts between federal, state, and local officials. The role of a judge is not to engage in political disputes, but to interpret and apply the law impartially.
If elected, my responsibility would be to follow the law as written, apply controlling precedent, and ensure that any case involving federal, state, or local authority is decided fairly, thoughtfully, and within the bounds of judicial authority.
In recent months, federal agencies have overstepped the constitutional rights of the people. How would you protect and defend our constitutional rights?
If elected, I would protect constitutional rights by carefully applying the law to the facts of each case, ensuring due process, and safeguarding fundamental protections such as the right to counsel, the right to be heard, equal protection under the law, and protection against unlawful searches or seizures. Every person who enters the courtroom is entitled to those protections — regardless of background, status, or circumstance.
I would also ensure that proceedings in my courtroom are fair, transparent, and respectful.
What have you done and/or what do you commit to doing to support healthcare access for all?
Throughout my professional and community service, I have supported efforts that increase access to services and resources that improve the well-being of individuals and families in our community. Through my service on local boards and collaboration with community partners, I have seen firsthand how access to healthcare — including mental health treatment, substance use treatment, and preventative care — plays a critical role in stability, recovery, and overall public health.
If elected, I will not be in a policymaking role regarding healthcare systems, but I will ensure that individuals who appear before the court are treated fairly and that their circumstances, including health-related needs, are considered within the bounds of the law. I am committed to supporting fair access to justice and collaborating with community partners who work to improve access to healthcare resources for all members of our community.
What have you done and/or what do you commit to doing to address the affordability of
housing costs?
As a judicial candidate, I do not set policy on housing, food, or healthcare costs. However, through my work in the community and with problem-solving courts, I have seen how economic instability affects families and individuals who come before the court.
I support efforts that connect people to resources, treatment, and services that promote stability and long-term success. In my role, I would ensure that individuals are treated fairly and that their circumstances are considered within the bounds of the law.
While cost-of-living challenges require broader policy solutions, I remain committed to fairness, access to justice, and supporting community efforts that strengthen stability for families.
food costs?
See above.
healthcare costs?
See above.
What have you done and/or what do you commit to doing to support discussion about science, history, and gender as necessary parts of educating children in our schools?
As a judicial candidate, decisions about curriculum and educational standards fall outside the role of the judiciary and are properly addressed by educators, school boards, and policymakers.
Through my professional and community involvement, I have supported efforts that strengthen families, promote education, and encourage respectful dialogue about complex issues affecting young people. If elected, I will respect the separation of powers and ensure that any matters that come before the court related to education are decided based on the law and constitutional principles, not personal viewpoints.
My role would remain focused on applying the law fairly while respecting the appropriate authority of educational institutions and policymakers..
What have you done and/or what do you commit to doing to support public education?
While policy and funding decisions for public education are made by elected officials and school leaders, I strongly value the role public schools play in strengthening our community and supporting students and families.
Through my community involvement, I have supported efforts that connect families and youth to resources that promote stability and opportunity. I respect the work of educators and believe students benefit from access to quality education and thoughtful, informed instruction.
If elected, I will apply the law fairly to any matters involving education that come before the court and respect the proper role of educational institutions while protecting constitutional rights.
What do you think should be Indiana’s priority in terms of the electrical grid and energy generation sources? What have you done and/or what do you commit to do regarding a clean energy economy?
As a judicial candidate, I do not make policy decisions regarding energy generation or regulation — those responsibilities belong to elected officials and the appropriate regulatory bodies.
Energy infrastructure and resource development involve complex considerations related to reliability, affordability, economic development, and regulatory authority. Those matters are addressed through the legislative and administrative process.
If elected, my role would be to fairly and impartially apply the law to any cases involving energy policy, environmental regulations, or related disputes that come before the court. I would ensure that such matters are decided based on the facts and governing law while respecting the separation of powers.
My commitment is to uphold the rule of law and maintain judicial neutrality in all matters that come before me.
What have you done and/or what do you commit to doing to make your specific area of government more transparent to your constituents?
If elected, I would commit to running my courtroom in a clear, organized, and accessible manner. That includes issuing timely and well-reasoned decisions, clearly explaining rulings on the record, and ensuring that proceedings are conducted openly and in accordance with the law.
I would also prioritize professionalism and communication so that litigants, attorneys, and members of the public understand courtroom procedures and expectations. Transparency in judicial decision-making means that parties know the basis for a ruling and the legal principles that guided it.