Chief Justice Shepard Retires from Indiana Supreme Court

By: Chris Simpkins
BleekeDillonCrandall Attorneys

Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard began his position on Indiana’s highest court at the young age of 36. He was subsequently elevated to the position of Chief Justice a mere two years later at the age 38. At that time, he was the nation’s youngest chief justice. Now, after serving over twenty-five years and championing such efforts as modernizing the state’s court system and local government reform, Chief Justice Shepard has decided to retire from the court at the age of 64.

Governor Mitch Daniels issued this statement regarding Chief Justice Shepard: "Most Hoosiers recognize the historic place Randy Shepard will always hold in Indiana judicial history. What fewer people may know is there is no more nationally respected Supreme Court judge in any state in America, and this has been so for a very long time.”

The Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission is now tasked with finding Chief Justice Shepard’s successor, with interviews scheduled to begin in February of 2012. Governor Daniels will then choose a replacement from the Commission’s recommendations.