Lawrence Circuit Court - Judge Nathan G. Nikirk

06/06/2026

Thank you to Nathan Watson, Susan Gales, and the great folks at Bedford Revitalization Inc - BRI for donating the America 250 flag to the county. It looks great!

06/03/2026

Good morning,

I wanted to share a quick update and, most importantly, say thank you.

I have now been back to work full-time for two weeks, and I am feeling great. My cardiologist has completely cleared me to work, and cardiac rehabilitation continues to go very well. I am incredibly grateful for the excellent medical care I received and for the progress I have made over the past several weeks.

I also want to sincerely thank everyone who prayed for me, sent cards, checked in on me, and offered well wishes during my recovery. The support from our community, family, and friends has meant more to me, my wife, and my boys than we can adequately express.

One thing this experience has taught me is the importance of being proactive about heart health. I would encourage everyone to talk with their healthcare provider about whether a coronary calcium score test may be appropriate. It is a simple test that can provide valuable information and potentially identify problems before they become serious.

Please take care of yourselves, pay attention to your heart health, and do not put off preventive care. None of us are promised tomorrow, and taking a few simple steps today could make all the difference.

I am thankful to be doing well and I’m happy to be back in our beautiful courthouse doing the work I care so deeply about.

Thank you all again for your kindness, support, encouragement, and prayers.

— Judge Nikirk 😉

06/02/2026

Please note, the jury trial scheduled in the Lawrence Circuit Court for June 8–12, 2026, has been canceled because the case has settled.

All individuals who received a jury summons for this trial may disregard the summons and do not need to report for jury service on those dates.

On behalf of the Court, thank you for your willingness to serve. Jury service is one of the most important responsibilities of citizenship, and I greatly appreciate your time, commitment, and readiness to participate in our justice system.

- Judge Nikirk.

05/22/2026

05/11/2026

I may be temporarily sidelined, but we live in an amazing community. Mr. Felts literally brought in the cavalry from the North Lawrence Career Center to save the day.

Today, I got to see photos of the finished project, and I could not be more grateful, proud, or impressed. The flowers around the flagpole and veterans memorials look absolutely amazing. The hard work, pride, and care these students put into the project truly shows.

A huge thank you to Mr. Felts and to each of the students who helped complete the work. Your kindness and willingness to step up mean more to me than you can imagine.
Lawrence County is fortunate to have such outstanding students, teachers, and programs serving our community. I cannot wait to be back on my morning watering routine and enjoying the beautiful work these students created.
Thank you so much!
Judge Nikirk

05/02/2026

Thank you to Jamie and Brady Stogdill for the invitation to throw the ceremonial first pitch at the Heltonville Youth League baseball game tonight. My son's feedback on the pitch was “a little high, but not horrible,” so I consider it a success!

04/13/2026

I would like to extend my gratitude to Magistrate Judge Anah Hewetson Gouty and Director of Juvenile Probation Katie Messmann for their exceptional leadership in organizing and hosting last Friday's Human Trafficking Awareness training, and for their tireless efforts in promoting the safety and well-being of our youth.

I also want to recognize Chief Probation Officer Nedra Brock Fleetwood, Assistant Chief Scott Wedgewood, and the numerous probation officers whose dedication contributed to the program's success.

A special thanks to our guest speakers, Senior Judge Kimberly Dowling, Yvonne Moore of the Indiana Department of Child Services, Jeff Coffey of the Indiana State Police, and Kristin Cummings of Empowered Counseling, for sharing their expertise and valuable insights on this critical issue.

Finally, thank you to all attendees for your commitment to protecting and advocating for our youth. For additional information about human trafficking or warning signs, please contact the Lawrence Circuit Court at 812-275-2421. Court Administrator Ashley Case will provide assistance and necessary resources.

03/03/2026

The places you'll go are endless... especially in books! I had a fantastic time celebrating Read Across America Day at Shawswick Elementary, diving into Dr. Seuss' crazy world.
Thanks, Mr. George and Mrs. Foster, for having me as your guest reader! Also, thanks to my Probate Court Reporter, Donna George, for helping me today…she happens to know the principal pretty well!
The kindergarten and first-grade students were the real MVPs - attentive, excited, and impressively well-behaved. It was a thrill to read to you guys and give you the Reader's Oath. Keep reading, your adventures are just beginning!
- Judge Nikirk.
North Lawrence Community Schools
Shawswick Elementary School