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{{Short description|American judge (born 1956)}}
{{About|the judge|the singer-songwriter|Marc E. Bassy|other similarly named people|Mark Griffin (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = Judge
| name = Marc L. Griffin
| image = Marc L. Griffin.jpg
| image_caption = Griffin in 1974
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|05|25}}
| birth_place = [[Greensburg, Indiana]], U.S.
| occupation = Lawyer
| years_active = 1993–2021
| education = {{Ubl
| [[Indiana Wesleyan University]] ([[B.A.]])
| [[Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law]] ([[Juris Doctor|J.D.]])
}}
| known_for = World's youngest judge
}}
'''Marc L. Griffin''' (born May 25, 1956) is a former American [[lawyer]] who became the world's youngest [[judge]] at age 17 in 1974.

== Early life and education ==
Griffin was born on May 25, 1956, in [[Greensburg, Indiana]]. In 1961, his parents moved the family to [[Beech Grove, Indiana]].

In 1974, he graduated from [[Beech Grove High School]]. He received a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in business administration from [[Indiana Wesleyan University]]. In 1992, he was awarded the degree of [[Juris Doctor|Doctor of Jurisprudence]] by the [[Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law]].<ref name="About">{{cite news |last1=Rychaert |first1=Vic |title=About Marc L. Griffin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104836314/the-indianapolis-star/ |newspaper=[[The Indianapolis Star]] |access-date=July 2, 2022 |date=December 1, 2011 |page=S10 |via=[[newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

== Judicial career ==
=== Governor's appointment ===
On the nomination of the Board of Commissioners of [[Johnson County, Indiana]] Griffin was appointed and commissioned by [[Indiana Governor]] [[Otis Bowen]] on February 19, 1974, as a [[Justice of the Peace]] to fill a vacancy in that office in [[White River Township, Johnson County, Indiana]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=Terry |date=February 20, 1974 |title=Youngest JP in history of state? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77453306/justice-of-the-peace-griffin/ |page=1 |newspaper=[[Daily Journal (Franklin, Indiana)]] |via=[[newspapers.com]] |access-date=February 17, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Star">{{cite news |last1=Ito |first1=Craig |title=Marryin' Marc, The New J.P., Found Job Right Out of School |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95157293/ |newspaper=[[The Indianapolis Star]] |date=21 February 1974 |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95157293/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95161670/ 6] |access-date=February 17, 2022 |via=[[newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

=== Indiana Attorney General opinion ===
After having appointed Griffin as a Justice of the Peace, Governor Bowen requested an official opinion from [[Indiana Attorney General]] [[Theodore Sendak]] asking how the laws which define age eligibility for holding office affected his appointment of Griffin. On March 19, 1974, Sendak issued his Official Opinion No. 1 of 1974.<ref>{{cite book |last=Sendak |first=Theodore |author-link=Theodore L. Sendak |date=1974 |title=Annual Report of the Attorney General of Indiana - 1974 |url=https://scholarworks.iupui.edu/bitstream/handle/1805/260/1974%20Ind%20Op%20Att%27y%20Gen%201.pdf?sequence=33&isAllowed=y |page=1 |access-date=October 29, 2022}}</ref> Sendak opined that Griffin, as a 17-year-old person, was not old enough to take the [[oath of office]] as a Justice of the Peace in Indiana.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mooney |first1=Robert P. |title=Justice of the Peace, 17, Too Young: Sendak |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95702863/ |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95702863/ 1],[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95703244/ 14] |newspaper=[[The Indianapolis Star]] |date=March 20, 1974 |via=[[newspapers.com]] |access-date=February 17, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author= |title=Bulletin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95470152/ |access-date=July 2, 2022 |newspaper=[[Daily Journal (Franklin, Indiana)]] |date=March 19, 1974 |page=10 |via=[[newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=Terry |title=JP Too Young? (Griffin says no; Sendak says yes) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95471567/ |newspaper=[[Daily Journal (Franklin, Indiana)]] |date=March 20, 1974 |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95471567/ 1],[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95471921/ 20] |via=[[newspapers.com]] |access-date=February 19, 2022}}</ref> The Attorney General's opinion was only advisory and would not force Griffin from office unless his appointment was challenged successfully in court.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sendak Says Youthful JP Isn't Legal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104820342/the-star-press/ |access-date=July 2, 2022 |newspaper=[[The Star Press]] (Muncie, Indiana) |date=March 20, 1974 |page=3 |via=[[newspapers.com]]}}</ref> When the announcement of the opinion was picked up by the [[Associated Press]], the story appeared in newspapers all over the United States. Editors of the [[news agency|news agency's]] newspaper members deliberately set out to hook their readers with sensational headlines that screamed controversy and catastrophe.<ref>{{cite news |title=17-Year-Old J.P. Challenged, And He Has Big Worry - Justice blind, why not young? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95676893/ |access-date=February 20, 2022 |publisher=[[The News Journal]] (Wilmington, Delaware) |via=[[newspapers.com]] |date=March 20, 1974 |page=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Justice Without the Peace |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95644714/ |access-date=February 20, 2022 |publisher=[[The Kansas City Star]] |via=[[newspapers.com]] |date=March 20, 1974 |page=20}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=JP: Juvenile of the Peace? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95645497/ |access-date=February 20, 2022 |publisher=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |via=[[newspapers.com]] |date=March 20, 1974 |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Christian |first=Darrell |title=He May Be Youngest Illegal JP in U.S. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95646186/ |access-date=February 20, 2022 |publisher=[[Corpus Christi Times]] |via=[[newspapers.com]] |date=March 20, 1974 |page=2D}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bride Was Old Enough---His Honor Wasn't |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95647171/ |access-date=February 20, 2022 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |via=[[newspapers.com]] |date=March 21, 1974 |page=2}}</ref> In light of the Attorney General's opinion, Griffin and the Johnson County Board of Commissioners asked the county attorney to give his opinion and report back to them. Contrary to the Attorney General's opinion, the county attorney's opinion found no reason why Griffin could not hold the office. The county attorney offered to represent the Commissioners and Griffin should they be challenged in court.<ref>{{cite news |title=County attorney defends Griffin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95767331/ |newspaper=[[Daily Journal (Franklin, Indiana)]] |date=March 25, 1974 |page=1 |via=[[newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

=== Judicial opinion on eligibility ===
Griffin and Robert W. Condit were [[candidates]] in the May 1974 Republican [[primary election]] for Justice of the Peace in White River Township.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stilley |first1=Al |title=GOP primary highlighted by White River JP race |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95927499/ |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95927499/ 1],[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95929133/ 16] |access-date=February 21, 2022 |newspaper=[[Daily Journal (Franklin, Indiana)]] |date=May 3, 1974 |via=[[newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Condit filed a [[lawsuit]] against the Johnson County Election Board.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 18, 1974 |title=Condit files suit against county election board |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95636046/ |page=1 |newspaper=[[Daily Journal (Franklin, Indiana)]] |access-date=February 18, 2022 |via=[[newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=April 19, 1974 |title=Youth's Appointment as J.P. Challenged |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95420555/ |page=16 |newspaper=[[Indianapolis News]] |access-date=February 18, 2022 |via=[[newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Condit claimed that the Election Board was violating the law when they registered Griffin as a candidate. Condit cited the official opinion issued by Indiana Attorney General Sendak. The suit noted that the [[election commission|election board]] approved Griffin's filing as a candidate six days after the official opinion had been issued.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 19, 1974 |title=Candidacy Of 17-Year-Old J.P. Challenged In Suit |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95637877/ |page=26 |newspaper=[[Indianapolis News]] |access-date=February 19, 2022 |via=[[newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Griffin defeated Condit in the primary election.<ref>{{cite news |title='Just Great,' 17-Year-Old J.P. Says After Victory |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95156407/ |newspaper=[[Indianapolis News]] |date=May 8, 1974 |page=18 |via=[[newspapers.com]] |access-date=February 17, 2022}}</ref> After he was defeated, Condit amended his [[lawsuit]] against the Election Board by adding Griffin as a [[defendant]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Teen Named Defendant In Suit Challenging His Right To Be J.P. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95803170/ |newspaper=[[Indianapolis Star]] |access-date=February 20, 2022 |date=May 24, 1974 |page=18 |via=[[newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Young JP Added To Loser's Lawsuit |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95800519/ |newspaper=[[Indianapolis News]] |access-date=February 20, 2022 |date=May 24, 1974 |page=30 |via=[[newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Condit claims Griffin illegal JP candidate |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95798818/ |newspaper=[[Daily Journal (Franklin, Indiana)]] |access-date=February 19, 2022 |date=May 23, 1974 |page=20 |via=[[newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Condit did not prevail in his suit when a court ruled that the Attorney General's opinion was not a correct interpretation of the law. The court's ruling in that case validated Griffin's eligibility to be a candidate and to serve.<ref>{{cite news |date=14 August 1974 |title=Teen J.P. Wins Fight To Be Put On Ballot |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95416602/ |page=9 |newspaper=[[The Indianapolis Star]] |via=[[newspapers.com]] |access-date=February 19, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ruling by judge favors young JP |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95632192/ |newspaper=[[Daily Journal (Franklin, Indiana)]] |date=August 14, 1974 |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95632192/ 1],[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95633034/ 20] |via=[[newspapers.com]] |access-date=February 19, 2022}}</ref>

=== Justice of the Peace court ===
On April 6, 1974, Griffin opened his [[courtroom]] in [[Greenwood, Indiana]], and heard cases for the first time.<ref>{{cite news |author= |title=17-Year-Old Set To Open J.P. Office |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95641911/ |newspaper=[[The Indianapolis Star]] |access-date=February 19, 2022 |date=March 24, 1974 |page=36 |via=[[newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Griffin opened his courtroom Saturday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95589710/ |newspaper=[[Daily Journal (Franklin, Indiana)]] |access-date=February 19, 2022 |date=April 9, 1974 |page=1 |via=[[newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He adjudicated civil small claims cases such as [[debt collection]], [[Dishonoured cheque|dishonored checks]], [[Landlord–tenant law|landlord-tenant issues]], and [[property damage]]. On his criminal docket, he heard [[misdemeanor]] cases including vehicle [[moving violations]], [[breach of the peace]], [[shoplifting]], and [[assault]].<ref>{{cite news |title=White River JP court report |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95188065/ |newspaper=[[Daily Journal (Franklin, Indiana)]] |date=July 8, 1975 |page=8 |via=[[newspapers.com]] |access-date=February 17, 2022}}</ref> He held surety of the peace hearings and issued [[peace bond]]s which are known in the present day as [[Restraining order|protective orders]].<ref name="Guinness">{{cite news |last1=Lange |first1=Tom |title=Lawyer hold Guinness record |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95162407/ |newspaper=[[Daily Journal (Franklin, Indiana)]] |date=2 November 2011 |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95162407/ 1],[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95164123/ 8] |access-date=February 17, 2022 |via=[[newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He was legally authorized to perform [[civil marriages]]<ref>{{cite news |title=New Year's Eve wedding planned at courthouse |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95598050/ |newspaper=[[Daily Journal (Franklin, Indiana)]] |page=14 |access-date=February 19, 2022 |date=December 31, 1974 |via=[[newspapers.com]]}}</ref> and was doing so when he was below the [[Marriage age in the United States|marriage age]] in Indiana.<ref>{{cite news |title=JP Is Too Young To Marry |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95933738/ |newspaper=Tipton County Tribune (Tipton, Indiana) |date=February 24, 1974 |page=3 |via=[[newspapers.com]] |access-date=February 21, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=How Old Do I Have to be to Get Married? |url=https://www.indianalegalservices.org/node/60/how-old-do-i-have-be-get-married |website=Indiana Legal Services, Inc. |date=April 26, 2012 |access-date=15 February 2022}}</ref>

=== Term of office ===
His appointive [[term of office]] ended on December 31, 1974.<ref name="Star" /> On November 5, 1974, he won a contested [[general election]] which allowed him to continue in an elective term of office of four years.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=Terry |title=Democrats capture five county races |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95164998/ |newspaper=[[Daily Journal (Franklin, Indiana)]] |date=6 November 1974 |page=1 |via=[[newspapers.com]] |access-date=February 17, 2022}}</ref> However, his elective term of office was cut short when the [[Indiana General Assembly]] abolished Justice of the Peace courts statewide effective January 1, 1975.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Baker |first1=John G. |title=The History of the Indiana Trial Court System and Attempts at Renovation |journal=[[Indiana Law Review]] |volume=30:233 |page=252 |url=https://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/inlawrev/article/download/3220/3147/8612 |access-date=15 February 2022}}</ref>

== Guinness World Records ==
Griffin holds the ''[[Guinness World Records]]'' title of the World's Youngest Judge.<ref>{{cite web |title=Youngest Judge |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/youngest-judge |website=Guinness World Records |date=February 19, 1974 |access-date=June 29, 2022}}</ref>

In 1990, being unaware of Griffin's earlier achievement, Guinness World Records awarded the title of World's Youngest Judge to John Payton. Payton, at age eighteen years, nine months, and fourteen days old, was elected a judge as a [[Collin County, Texas]], Justice of the Peace on November 6, 1990.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brown |first1=Lyle C. |title=Practicing Texas Politics |date=2022 |publisher=Cengage Learning |isbn=978-0357505243 |page=298 |edition=18th |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OZs5EAAAQBAJ&dq=john%20payton%20guinness%20world%20record%20texas&pg=PA398 |access-date=16 February 2022}}</ref>

Griffin had achieved the record at an age younger than Payton on his ''appointment'' as a judge on February 19, 1974, at the age of seventeen years, eight months, and twenty-five days old. Griffin also achieved the record at an age younger than Peyton on being ''elected'' as a judge on November 5, 1974, at the age of eighteen years, five months, and eleven days. However, it was not until 2011 that Guinness World Records became aware of Griffin's achievements and correctly awarded the title to him, who had set the record 37 years earlier.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Weiss|first=Debra |date=October 31, 2011 |title=Indiana Lawyer Who Started His Legal Career as a 17-Year-Old Judge Gets the World Record |url=https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/indiana_lawyer_who_started_his_legal_career_as_a_17-year-old_judge_holds_th/ |website=[[ABA Journal]] |access-date=February 17, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Nelson |first1=Jennifer |title=Greenwood attorney is world's youngest judge |url=https://www.theindianalawyer.com/articles/27449-greenwood-attorney-is-worlds-youngest-judge |publisher=The Indiana Lawyer |date=9 November 2011 |access-date=February 17, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Guinness" />

== Bar admissions and legal career ==
Unlike most judges, his bar admissions did not come until after his judicial career. In 1993, he was [[Admission to the bar in the United States|admitted to the bar]] of the [[Indiana Supreme Court]],<ref>{{cite book |date=1993 |title=Res Gestae |volume=37 |page=30 |publisher=[[Indiana State Bar Association]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Indiana Roll of Attorneys |url=https://courtapps.in.gov/rollofattorneys/attorney/6cb0e6b9-0ab7-e011-9d34-02215e942453?FirstName=MARC&LastName=GRIFFIN&OrderBy=0&Page=1 |website=courts.in.gov |access-date=June 27, 2022}}</ref> [[United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana]], [[United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana]], and the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit]]. In 1996, he was admitted as an attorney and counselor of the [[Supreme Court of the United States]].
In his first year of the [[practice of law]] he was a [[Sole practitioner|solo practitioner]] in [[Indianapolis]].<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2 |url=https://www.ancestry.com |website=Ancestry.com |access-date=29 June 2022}}{{subscription required}}</ref> From 1994 to 1997 he was a partner at Griffin & Smith in Indianapolis. From 1998 to 2021 he was a partner at Griffin, Hicks & Hicks in Greenwood, Indiana.<ref>{{cite web |title=Griffin, Hicks & Hicks |url=https://lawyers.findlaw.com/profile/view/2262734_1 |website=FindLaw |access-date=29 June 2022}}</ref> His practice focused on [[real estate]] law.<ref name="About" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Griffin, Marc}}
[[Category:American judges]]
[[Category:American justices of the peace]]
[[Category:Politics in popular culture]]
[[Category:Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indiana lawyers]]
[[Category:21st-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century American judges]]
[[Category:20th-century American politicians]]
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:Amateur radio people]]
[[Category:Real property lawyers]]

Marc Griffin - Revision history

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