Dickson
INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Supreme Court Justice Brent E. Dickson has been selected as the Court's new chief justice.
On Tuesday, the state's Nominating Commission voted unanimously to appoint Dickson, effective immediately.
The seven-member commission is responsible for selecting the Court's chief justice.
"I am deeply honored by the commission's confidence in me and by my fellow justices' kind words and support urging my selection. I welcome the opportunity to serve the citizens of Indiana, our dedicated judicial officers, and the staffs of our various court agencies," Dickson said in a statement.
Fellow justices Mark Massa, Steven David and Robert Rucker all urged the commission to appoint Dickson as chief justice.
Massa told the commission, "Justice Dickson is a consensus builder, a leader and thoughtful. He is a marvelous choice for chief justice."
David described his colleague as "a person with humility who is honest and allows us to set a great example for the bench and the bar."
Rucker agreed.
"Over the last few weeks Justice Dickson has been a steady hand and done a magnificent job. We could not ask for a better person to serve."
Dickson already has some experience as the head of the state's high court.
Since March, he has been serving as the acting chief justice after former Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard retired.
Prior to being appointed to the Court in 1986, Dickson served as a general practice attorney in Lafayette, Ind., for 17 years.
An Indiana native, born in Gary in 1941, he graduated from Purdue University in 1964 and Indiana University's Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 1968.
He and his wife, Jan Aikman Dickson, have three sons and nine grandchildren. His wife is the founder of the Judicial Family Institute.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by email at jessica@legalnewsline.com.