On Wednesday, August 21, the Judicial Nominating Commission unanimously voted to reappoint Loretta Rush as Chief Justice of Indiana. The four other justices—Mark Massa, Geoffrey Slaughter, Christopher Goff, and Derek Molter—shared thoughts with the Commission, including their support for Chief Justice Rush to continue leading Indiana’s judicial branch.
Rush was appointed to the high court in 2012, selected as Chief Justice in 2014, and reappointed as Chief Justice in 2019. Responding to Wednesday’s reappointment, Rush said, “The past decade has marked a significant evolution in our judicial branch. Through the unwavering dedication of my appellate court colleagues, our trial court judges, and staff across the state, we’ve worked to strengthen our judicial system. But important work remains, and I look forward to continuing our efforts.”
During the past ten years, Rush has overseen the launch of pretrial and problem-solving court initiatives, the finalization of statewide electronic filing and unified case management systems, the overhaul of the administrative agency structure, and the enhancement of access to justice for all. She has also led efforts—both statewide and nationally—to transform how courts address participants with behavioral health issues and substance use disorders. Her full biography and photograph are online.
The Nominating Commission recruits candidates for appellate judicial positions and appoints Indiana’s Chief Justice every five years. Today, the Commission heard from all five justices in a meeting open to the public and press before going into an executive session for discussion. The Commission then convened in a public session to vote on its selection of Indiana’s Chief Justice, naming Loretta Rush. Detailed information on the seven-member Commission and the selection process can be found online.