ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- This week, the St. Joseph Circuit Court announce the appointment of Notre Dame alum Molly E. Donnelly as Magistrate Judge for the St. Joseph Circuit Court.

According to the court, Donnelly’s docket will include civil protective orders, felony case filings, Grand Jury proceedings, complex civil litigation matters, and various domestic relations cases.

“Ms. Donnelly’s wealth of experience in jury trial litigation, supervisory experience with the United States Attorney’s Office, experience in both family law and criminal law matters, exceptional character references, and her exemplary record of nearly 20 years in public service will make her an excellent addition to the St. Joseph County judiciary”, said St. Joseph Circuit Court Judge John E. Broden.

Donnelly is a 2000 graduate of Marian High School and a 2004 graduate of the University of Notre Dame. She graduated from the Washington and Lee University School of Law in 2007.

Career highlight during an 18-year career in the practice of law, as described by the St. Joseph Circuit Court:

• Most recently, since September of 2020, Ms. Donnelly has served as Branch Chief for the South Bend Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana where she has supervised Assistant United States Attorneys and has provided extensive training to Assistant United States Attorneys and law enforcement throughout the district. During this time, Ms. Donnelly has also maintained an independent caseload.
• In partnership with local law enforcement, community leaders, and social service providers, Ms. Donnelly has participated in the South Bend Group Violence Intervention Program to reduce gun violence.
• Ms. Donnelly has expertise in emerging trends in the rules of evidence particularly regarding authentication and admissibility of social media records at trial.
• In July of 2016, Ms. Donnelly joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana. As an Assistant United States Attorney, Ms. Donnelly has conducted jury trials, sentencing hearings, and motions to suppress evidence, among other hearings. Ms. Donnelly’s practice areas included violent crimes, firearms offenses, distribution of controlled substances, child exploitation offenses, white collar crimes, and immigration offenses. All jury trials prosecuted by Ms. Donnelly were affirmed on appeal.
• Ms. Donnelly previously practiced for nearly 10 years at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office where she prosecuted jury trials for offenses including first degree murder, drug distribution, and firearms possession.
• As an Assistant State’s Attorney, she also represented the People of the State of Illinois in various juvenile and child protection matters, including numerous bench trials for felony and misdemeanor offenses as well as child abuse and neglect and termination of parental rights matters.
• Ms. Donnelly also has extensive appellate experience having presented over 30 briefs to the Appellate Court of Illinois. She has argued before the First District of the Appellate Court of Illinois and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Donnelly will fill the vacancy in the St. Joseph Circuit Court created by the retirement of Judge Andre B. Gammage.