Hon. Richard F. McDevitt

Former Circuit Court Magistrate Judge

Hon. Richard F. McDevitt founded the McDevitt Mediation Center to serve others who are involved in litigation or conflict in their lives.  Prior to founding McDevitt Mediation Center, Rich served as Magistrate Judge of the Lake County Circuit Court.  During that time, he served on the Indiana Supreme Court Committee on Jury Rules, drafting the Rules and Amendments governing assembly, selection and management of juries in all Indiana courts.  Judge McDevitt was named Outstanding Judge by the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence in recognition of outstanding service to victims of domestic violence.  He presided over jury and bench trials involving all aspects of civil disputes, including personal injury and wrongful death, insurance coverage, medical and legal malpractice, class actions and contracts, real property and property tax, employment discrimination and wrongful discharge, injunctions and family law.  Rich also successfully conducted Judicial Settlement Conferences involving complex litigation.

A graduate of the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum’s Civil and Domestic Relations Mediation Training, he is registered with the Indiana Supreme Court as both a Civil and a Domestic Relations Mediator.  Since leaving the bench, Rich has conducted thousands of mediations and served as Panel Chair on numerous Arbitration Panels involving personal injury and contract disputes.

Prior to his appointment to the court, Rich worked for 22 years in private practice. During that time he practiced as a civil litigator representing both Plaintiffs and Defendants, and also served as City Attorney for the City of Gary, Indiana, as a litigator and appellate counsel.

Judge McDevitt is a graduate of:

  • Indiana University, BA 1982
  • Indiana University School of Law, Bloomington, JD 1985