Dozens of people who work with local at-risk youth gathered inside the Bartholomew County Courthouse Friday afternoon to bid farewell to Juvenile Court Magistrate Heather Mollo, who has retired.
The retiring juvenile magistrate, who has worked at the courthouse for the past 20 years, will be succeeded by Bartholomew County deputy prosecutor Lindsey Holden Kay, who begins her new duties on the bench Monday.
Since juvenile court is usually off-limits to the public and reporters, Holden Kay says most people have no idea how fortunate the entire community has been to have Mollo.
"I’ve seen Judge Mollo’s level of compassion and concern with the people she works with day in and day out," Holden Kay said. "She’s touched a lot of lives, so I know I have big shoes to fill."
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Mollo greeted friends and colleagues in the Bartholomew Superior Court 1 courtroom, wearing a mask with hearts and peace symbols, with the words "peace," "love" and "justice." Kay wore an identical mask during the event.
Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop read a proclamation in Mollo’s honor during the proceedings, and she received a framed copy to keep.
Locally, Mollo is chair of the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative, is a member of the advisory board for the Bartholomew County Youth Services Center and a board member of District Eleven Legal Aid. She also serves as a member of the Regional Services Council for Region 14.
In March, 2018, Mollo was placed in charge of Family Recovery Court, a problem-solving court that attempts a reunification of families. It was created at a time when more than 80 percent of all local Children in Need of Services (CHINS) cases in Bartholomew County involve a parent dealing with drug addiction.
Mollo says she hope to use her retirement to restore some balance in her life. For example, she plans to spend time with her 98-year-old mother, her two adult sons, Justin and Evan, and her four grandchildren.
But she will stay active with several state groups, Mollo said. She has volunteered to get an organization similar to the ASAP Hub started in Nashville to help provide resources to Brown County residents battling addiction.
After receiving her undergraduate degree in psychology from Franklin College, Mollo’s first job was counseling economically disadvantaged individuals. But when she discovered that legal issues can become barriers too often for people needing help, she went after and received her law degree from Indiana University, Mollo said.
In Brown County, where she still lives, Mollo served as a public defender, part-time deputy prosecutor, and as a referee presiding over juvenile cases. She also was appointed counsel to Brown County’s Department of Welfare, where she handled all cases involving abuse and neglect.
Her authority, as well as her salary, received a prominent boost in 1993 when Mollo was appointed by then-Indiana Gov. Evan Bayh to fill out the remaining term of former Brown County Circuit Court Judge Judith Stewart.
One year later, Mollo won a six-year term during the 1994 election.
But then, something unusual happened in 1999.
That was when Heather Mollo asked her husband, Steve, how he would feel if she cut her salary in half, as well as giving up most of her benefits, by resigning from the bench in Nashville to work with children in Columbus.
Steve Mollo told his wife to do what was right for her.
"My goodness, why did she do that?" asked former Circuit Court Judge Stephen Heimann, who worked with Mollo for 16 years. "She resigned as a judge making a very good salary to take this job as a part-time juvenile referee. Why?"
Heimann then answered his own question.
"Because she recognized she could make a big difference in kids lives who come before her. And that’s what she valued," he said.
To further illustrate his point, Heimann said that in 1991, Mollo learned that a boy appearing before her in her court was going to play in an eighth grade basketball tournament. However, the boy didn’t have any relatives or friends who were going to watch him play.
"So Heather drove to Terre Haute to watch the game because she just wanted to make sure this boy knew there was someone who cared about him," Heimann said.
As Mollo puts it, working with kids has always been where her heart, passion and talents have always been.
One advocate and case guardian who has volunteered several years in Mollo’s court is Bud Herron.
A retired publisher of The Republic, Herron describes Mollo as having "extraordinarily good values, a big heart and a desire to do right."
Circuit Court Judge Kelly Benjamin, who has direct supervision over juvenile court, was quick to point out that Mollo also serves on several state judicial committees.
She is the chair of the Child Welfare Improvement Committee and is a member of the State CASA advisory board. In addition, she is a member of the Juvenile Benchbook Committee.
"Heather is absolutely an amazing person who has a heart of gold who has done anything and everything – not only within this community, but throughout the state – to try and promote the best interests and the best welfare of all our kids," Benjamin said.
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Bartholomew County Juvenile Court handles cases regarding juvenile paternity, juvenile delinquency, juvenile termination of parental rights, and all cases that fall under the jurisdiction of CHINS (Children In Need of Services). CHINS is an Indiana-based program designed to provide safety for children in cases involved child abuse and neglect proceedings. The intent of this court is to hear cases regarding the welfare of juveniles.
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