Applications available for position on state’s highest court

Applications for an upcoming vacancy on the state’s highest court are due on or before June 29. Chief Justice Brent E. Dickson announced details of the application process for the vacancy that will be available at the end of the summer. The applications are online at courts.in.gov/jud-qual/2880.htm.

Chief Justice Dickson encouraged attorneys and judges from across the state to apply for the seat and said, “Appellate judicial service can be an enormously satisfying opportunity to serve your profession and your fellow Hoosiers.” A candidate must be an Indiana resident and must have been a member of the Indiana bar for 10 years or an Indiana judge for five years.

The position on the high court is available because Justice Frank Sullivan Jr. announced he is stepping down from the bench. In April, Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law announced Justice Sullivan would begin teaching full time in the fall. His departure creates the third opening on the five-member Court in the past two years.

The seven-member Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission will search for Justice Sullivan’s successor. The commission includes three lawyers elected by their peers and three citizen-members appointed by the governor.  Chief Justice Dickson chairs the commission.

The commission will conduct initial public interviews of qualified candidates in Indianapolis on July 17-18, followed by second interviews Aug. 8-9. After the public interviews and commission deliberations in an executive session, the commission will publicly vote to send the three most qualified names to Gov. Mitch Daniels. The governor will have 60 days to select Indiana's next justice from the names provided by the commission.

Those interested in applying to be the state’s 108th Supreme Court justice may contact Adrienne Meiring, counsel for the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission, at 317/232-4706. The Court issues decisions in about 100 cases and holds nearly 70 oral arguments a year.

For more information about the Indiana Supreme Court, visit courts.in.gov, and for more information on the Judicial Nominating Commission, visit courts.in.gov/jud-qual.