First African-American elected judge
Valeri Haughton started her professional career as a mental health counselor, but at the age of 40, she returned to Iowa University and earned a law degree. After attending a Council on Legal Opportunities event hosted at Indiana University, Haughton decided to remain in Bloomington. She later married Frank Motley, assistant dean of the Maurer School of Law, and eventually became a Monroe County deputy prosecuting attorney. With a seat about to open on the Monroe Circuit Court bench, Haughton-Motley took the advice of her husband to seek the position. In 2008, she defeated Joby D. Jerrells for the sixth seat on the court. Six years later, Haughton defeated Karen A. Wyle to retain it. Hauthon-Motley’s role in the Bloomington community was recognized in 2015 when she won the Bloomington Woman of the Year award. In 2018, Frank Motley and Valerie Haughton-Motley were named recipients of the Living Legend award given at the city of Bloomington’s annual Black History Month gala.