Vote Austin Shadle for Judge - May 5

Gregory A. Horn, judge of Wayne Superior Court No. 2, has announced that he will retire at the end of this year, completing the final year of his most recent elected term and concluding a remarkable five-term, 30-year career on the bench. Judge Horn’s service represents a historic tenure,  marked by wisdom, heart, and his famous work-ethic and unwavering dedication. The depth and significance of his contributions to the citizens of Wayne County and the Indiana judiciary cannot be overstated.

Seeking to succeed Judge Horn, Austin Shadle traveled to the Statehouse on Friday, January 9, where he officially filed his declaration of candidacy for Wayne Superior Court No. 2. Shadle will seek the Republican nomination in the May 5 primary election.

Appointed as a judicial assistant in 2020, Shadle continues to serve as a Commissioner and presides over Wayne County’s 4-D Court, which handles paternity and child support matters. In addition to his courtroom responsibilities, Commissioner Shadle serves the broader judiciary as a member of the Indiana Supreme Court Public Relations Committee.

A lifelong Hoosier and attorney of more than 21 years, Commissioner Shadle brings an unusually broad and balanced range of legal experience to the bench. Early in his career, he handled complex civil litigation, including insurance coverage disputes, landowner liability cases, and toxic tort matters involving asbestos-related illnesses. He later served as a deputy prosecuting attorney, where he prosecuted domestic violence offenses and crimes against children.

Working in collaboration with local and federal law enforcement agencies, Shadle was subsequently assigned to a special investigative consortium focused on prosecuting public housing and welfare fraud, as well as, improving health and safety within public housing. After relocating to Wayne County more than a decade ago, he shifted roles again—this time serving as a court-appointed public defender.

“I’ve practiced on both sides of the courtroom,” Shadle explains. “In civil cases, I’ve represented both plaintiffs and defendants. In criminal cases, I spent years prosecuting serious offenses and then years defending the accused. It’s rare for an attorney to have substantial jury trial experience in both civil and criminal law, but that breadth of experience has shaped my approach to fairness, impartiality, and judicial decision-making.”

Before assuming his current judicial role, Shadle also served as an “of counsel” trial attorney with a Richmond law firm, continuing to handle both civil and criminal matters. In addition to his criminal and civil litigation background, he has presided over family law cases for nearly six years, giving him extensive experience in matters that directly affect children and families.

Shadle earned his undergraduate degree from Purdue University and his law degree from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. He resides in Richmond, Indiana with his wife, Laurie (Butler) Shadle, and their three children.