Judge R. Kent Apsley was elected judge of Shelby Superior Court 1 in November of 2014. He is a 1981 graduate of Indiana University with degrees in Forensic Studies and Political Science. Judge Apsley graduated from Indiana University Mauer School of Law in 1983 and was admitted to bar in 1984. Prior to going on the bench, Judge Apsley was engaged in the private practice of law for fifteen years as a trial attorney and a Public Defender. He later served as Shelby County Chief Deputy Prosecutor. From 1999 through 2014 he was the elected Prosecuting Attorney for the 16th Judicial District.

Judge Apsley currently serves as a member of the Board of Managers of the Indiana Judges Association. He was also appointed by the Chief Justice to serve as Chair of the Indiana Judicial Conference, Criminal Law Policy Committee. He is a member of the American Judges Association, Indiana Judges Association, Indiana Council of the Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and the National Council of the Juvenile and Family Court Judges.