Ten Named as Semifinalists for Supreme Court Justice #108

Today the Judicial Nominating Commission named the following applicants as semifinalists to replace Justice Sullivan and become the 108th Hoosier to serve on the Indiana Supreme Court.

1.  Judge Cale Bradford, Indiana Court of Appeals
2. Judge Frances M. Gull, Allen Superior Court
3. Erin Reilly Lewis, IU Health
4. Ms. Andrielle M. Metzel, Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff
5. Judge Steven R. Nation, Hamilton Superior Court
6. Judge Loretta H. Rush, Tippecanoe Superior Court
7. Geoffrey Slaughter, Taft Stettinius & Hollister
8. Judge Marianne L. Vorhees, Delaware Circuit Court
9. Judge Mary G. Willis, Henry Circuit Court
10. John P. Young, Young & Young

The Commission will meet with the semifinalists for a second round of interviews on August 8 and 9.

In 2010, thirty-four applied, and the Commission named nine semifinalists. Earlier this year it named seven semifinalists out of fifteen applicants for former Chief Justice Shepard’s seat. The last time a governor named a woman to the Court was 1994, when all three nominees submitted by the Commission were women. Governor Evan Bayh selected Myra Selby for that position.

For comprehensive coverage of the application process, including summaries of the first round of interviews, links to each applicant’s photo and application, and other analysis, visit the Indiana Law Blog’s entries on “Vacancy #2 on Supreme Court 2012.”

Once the Commission formally names three finalists, the governor will have sixty days to make a selection. Governor Daniels is currently considering Judge Robert Altice, Judge Rudolph Pyle, and Patricia McMath to replace Judge Carr Darden on the Court of Appeals, who must retire at age seventy-five. He has until August 10.