Indiana Supreme Court nomination letter sent to Pence

Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush sent a letter March 11 describing the three nominees for the state Supreme Court to Gov. Mike Pence.

The letter was sent on behalf of the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission and contains the recommendations for St. Joseph Superior Judge Steven Hostetler, Boone Superior Judge Matthew Kincaid and Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP partner Geoffrey Slaughter.

“I feel confident that all three nominees are of a high caliber and would be a lasting credit to the Indiana Supreme Court,” Rush wrote.

The nominees are for the vacancy on the Supreme Court that will be created when Justice Brent Dickson retires April 29. Pence now has 60 days to select one of the men for the open seat on the bench.

Rush also included evaluations of the qualifications for each candidate.

Hostetler was described as having “earned a reputation for insightful legal analysis, a diligent work ethic, and sound decision-making.” He has been called “a true embodiment of the characteristics citizens should expect from our local judiciary: kind, fair, even-tempered, and knowledgeable of the law.”

Kincaid was 33 years old when he was elected to the Boone Superior Court and since then, the letter stated, he “has risen to any challenge and surpassed even lofty expectations … .” Also, “his reputation as a fair jurist has led practitioners to agree and entrust Matthew Kincaid to serve as special judge in matters of the utmost public importance.”

Slaughter was noted for having “earned a reputation for his extensive knowledge of constitutional and antitrust law” as well as being “recognized for this keen intellect, rigorous analysis of complex legal issues, clear and concise writing skills, and courteous manner … .”  

Both Hostetler and Slaughter are cum laude graduates of Indiana University Maurer School of Law. Kincaid is a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago School of Law.