Rush to lead another term as chief justice

Chief Justice Loretta Rush was selected for a third term leading the Indiana Supreme Court by the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission Wednesday morning. (IL Photo/Alexa Shrake)

The Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission selected Chief Justice Loretta Rush to serve another five years leading the high court Wednesday morning.

“I feel like I have a lot of work to do,” Rush said following the vote.

Concluding with interviews of all five Indiana Supreme Court justices, the commission unanimously voted to retain Rush as chief justice for a third term.

Rush was given a vase of roses and congratulated by the commission on another five years. In her interview with the commission, she said after her work on the bench she would be interested in working as a civil legal aid attorney in retirement.

Rush was appointed to the bench in 2012. Two years later she was selected as chief justice, making history as the first woman to serve in that role. She was then reappointed for a second term in 2019. She has been the only woman on the high court’s bench for all of her 12 years.

“There is not a day that I don’t take for granted that I’m Chief Justice,” Rush said.

Commission member Molly Kitchell asked Rush if there was something she feels like she hasn’t accomplished yet in her role as chief justice.

Rush said public trust, but that it will never happen.

“People trusting our judiciary, given the institution is probably more involved with Hoosier life than any other public institution, is important,” Rush said.

Support from colleagues

Justice Derek Molter was first to speak with the commission, being the newest member on the court.

He spoke highly of Rush’s leadership and compared her to Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark and Pacer’s Tyrese Haliburton in the way she has brought positive attention to the judiciary.

“What’s incredibly impactful is the way in which she kind of brings the team up around her,” Molter said.

Next, Justice Christopher Goff spoke of the three characteristics he felt a chief justice should have. He listed first as caring, second as competence and third as credibility. He said the chief is the face of the institution.

“Anyone who sits in that chair is a human being, first and foremost,” Goff said.

He mentioned how the judicial branch has to work with the Indiana governor and Indiana General Assembly to see changes. For example, he talked about the use of the 988 suicide and crisis hotline that people can call instead of 911.

“It’s not easy. It’s collaborative. The chief really needs to understand that, and it is a real challenge going forward to be able to maintain that complexity,” Goff said.

Justice Geoffrey Slaughter noted how three of the justices including himself have only served under Rush’s leadership.

“She’s been a terrific leader,” Slaughter said.

Commission member Lee Christie asked Slaughter what he thought were issues the commission could improve. Slaughter responded and said diversity.

“Diversity in the judiciary and diversity in the profession at large is an issue, to the extent that we can bring more people with diverse backgrounds. I don’t mean just demographic diversity, but that’s important. But people with different backgrounds and different life experience. All of those traits are valuable to our judiciary,” Slaughter said.

Slaughter ended by saying Rush makes them proud in the state and nationally.

Justice Mark Massa, the longest sitting justice on the bench currently by a few months, was asked by the commission if he has any hesitancy supporting Rush for a third term given that he applied for the role in 2014.

“No, not at all.” Massa said. “There is absolutely no need for change in leadership, whatever personal ambitions any of us have.”

He noted how under Rush’s leadership they have ruled on big issues in the state and handled them in a way that is true to the Indiana Constitution.

“We’re a court that has tackled some very big, weighty issues in recent years, but I think we do so in a way that is true to our Constitution and to our mission and to our duty, to explain our decisions to the reasoned judgment,” Massa said. “I think someone who fosters that atmosphere and leads that effort embodies the most important attributes that Chief Justice can have.”