Indianapolis – JAMS, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services worldwide, is proud to share that Hon. Heather A. Welch (Ret.) has been appointed to the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) Board of Directors for the 2024-2025 term and will again serve as vice president of publications.
In her role, Judge Welch will aid in the development of the association’s seasonal Counterbalance magazine and work to ensure that each issue aligns with the theme “Access to justice is justice for all,” which was set by Judge Michelle Rick, the current NAWJ president. Founded in 1979, the NAWJ has a mission to promote the judiciary’s role in protecting the rights of individuals under the rule of law through strong, committed and diverse judicial leadership; fairness and quality in the courts; and equal access to justice. As a board member, Judge Welch will play a role in furthering the mission of the NAWJ to foster awareness regarding the need to increase the number of women on the bench in order for the judiciary to accurately reflect the role of women in society and provide gender-fair decisions for all parties.
“Judge Welch has served as a champion for fairness and equal access to justice throughout her career, and believes that diversity on the bench is paramount to promoting an equitable justice system. We congratulate her on this appointment and are confident that she will continue to be an asset to the association in her role as vice president of publications.”
Kimberly Taylor, JAMS CEO and president
Judge Welch joined JAMS after a distinguished 23-year career on the Marion Superior Court (Indianapolis), including service as an Indiana commercial court judge for almost eight years and the presiding judge of the Marion Superior Court during the COVID-19 pandemic. While she presided over commercial and business disputes, she also managed a civil docket comprising over 2,000 cases, including complex product liability, medical and legal malpractice, construction and personal injury matters. She is known for her hands-on approach and efficiency in managing cases while considering the proportionality issues of each case to develop a timely but cost-conscious solution when appropriate.
In her role at JAMS, Judge Welch serves as an arbitrator, mediator, special master/referee, neutral evaluator and hearing officer, handling business/commercial, class action/mass tort, construction, cybersecurity and privacy, employment, health care, insurance, personal injury/torts, product liability, professional liability, real estate and real property, and sports and entertainment cases.
The full list of the 2024-2025 Board of Directors can be found here.
About JAMS – Local Solutions. Global Reach.
Founded in 1979, JAMS is the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution services worldwide. With a roster of over 450 neutrals and 29 locations, JAMS successfully resolves and manages tens of thousands of business and legal disputes by providing efficient, cost-effective and impartial ways to overcome barriers at any stage of conflict. JAMS offers customized in-person, virtual and hybrid resolution services locally and globally through a combination of industry-specific experience, first-class client service, the latest technology and highly trained mediators and arbitrators.
Building on this foundation, JAMS Pathways focuses on early conflict resolution, facilitation and training. Learn more about JAMS Pathways at jamspathways.com.
More information about JAMS is available at www.jamsadr.com, and you can connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and our JAMS ADR blog. To learn about diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at JAMS, visit www.jamsadr.com/diversity/.