(La Porte, IN) - History will soon be made in the courts in La Porte County.

 

Erika C. Stallworth will become the first ever African American judicial officer in La Porte County on April 21.

The appointment will be made by La Porte Circuit Court Judge Tom Alevizos, who made the announcement.

 

She will assume the duties of juvenile magistrate upon the retirement of W. Jonathon Forker, who has served as both magistrate and juvenile magistrate since 2011.

 

Stallworth is currently the Executive Director of the LaPorte County Juvenile Services Center, a 24-bed emergency shelter care and detention facility for at-risk children in need of services.

 

She grew up in Kingsford Heights and is a 1996 graduate of LaPorte High School.

 

Her post-secondary achievements include earning a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctorate degree from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

 

Officials said Stallworth also has legal practice experience in criminal record expungement and family law matters.

 

Currently, Stallworth is secretary/treasurer of the LaPorte County Bar Association.