The Honorable Steven H. David: Indiana’s Newest Supreme Court Justice

By: Chris Simpkins

On October 18th, Steven H. David was sworn in as Indiana’s 106th Supreme Court Justice. Governor Daniels nominated Justice David to replace retiring Justice Theodore R. Boehm. During the swearing in ceremony, Justice David spoke of his desire to be a lawyer ever since he was a little boy. He also informed the audience that his desire to sit on the bench as a judge can be traced back to his first day of law school. Justice David then moved on to establish one of the more remarkable legal careers out of all the present justices. Some of his more notable positions include Boone County Circuit Court judge, U.S. Army colonel, corporate attorney for Mayflower moving company, and chief legal counsel for detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

In his acceptance speech, Justice David stated, “I have no agenda. I owe no one anything. I am not an ‘R,’ I am not a ‘D,’ I am not an ‘I.’” Instead, he pledged to protect the state’s constitution from partisan politics. Justice David cited inspirational quotes from the likes of Abraham Lincoln, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and even John Mellencamp and Kenny Chesney. The newest member of the bench also received laughs from the audience when he expressed his judicial philosophy. He stated, “If you don’t know my judicial philosophy, then let me tell you – I apologize governor, it’s a little too late – I believe in humility, respect, fairness, and the rule of law.”

October 20th marked the first day of oral arguments for Justice David. The docket included one criminal case, one juvenile case, and one civil case. As Justice David begins to carve out his own niche on the current bench, his overall demeanor will likely remain the same as it was when he was the Boone County Circuit Court judge, where his humility was highly regarded by the lawyers who appeared before him. We wish Justice David the best of luck, and anxiously await the many decisions to come in the future.