Applications for an upcoming vacancy on the state’s highest court are due January 25, 2016 by noon. In November, the Judicial Nominating Commission announced applications for a vacancy being created by the retirement of Justice Brent E. Dickson. Justice Dickson is stepping down from the bench on April 29 after 30 years as a judicial branch leader.
The commission is a seven-member constitutionally created body that recruits and interviews applicants for appellate judicial vacancies. The commission is chaired by Chief Justice Loretta Rush. It includes three lawyers who are elected by their peers: Charlie Berger, Lee Christie, and John Feighner; and three citizens who are appointed by the Governor: David Tinkey, Lynette Long, and Rudy Yakym III.
The application is available at courts.in.gov/jud-qual/3306.htm. A candidate must be an Indiana resident and a member of the Indiana bar for ten years or an Indiana judge for five years. Those interested in applying may contact commission counsel, Adrienne Meiring, at 317-232-4706 or adrienne.meiring@courts.in.gov.
The commission will review applications and interview qualified candidates February 17-19 with a likely second round of interviews March 3-4. Interviews will take place at the Indiana State House in room 319. The interviews will be open to the public. After interviews and deliberations in an executive session, the commission will publicly vote to send the three most qualified names to Governor Mike Pence. The Governor has 60 days to select Indiana’s next justice.
