All eyes were on Indiana’s newest appointed Supreme Court justice when he was publicly sworn in Thursday in Indianapolis.
Government officials, judges, lawyers and politicians including Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb and Attorney General Gregory Zoeller, joined hundreds of guests inside the Indiana Supreme Court courtroom in Indianapolis to witness the investiture ceremony for Justice Geoffrey Slaughter.
Gov. Mike Pence selected the Crown Point native to fill the seat left by former Justice Brent Dickson, a Hobart native who retired in April after three decades on the bench. Slaughter, who is a former attorney for an Indianapolis law firm, was selected after an application process that began with 29 judicial candidates.
The Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission submitted three finalists to Pence for his selection after a series of interviews last February. Ultimately, Pence selected Slaughter over Boone Superior Judge Matthew Kincaid and Superior Judge Steven Hostetler. It was Slaughter’s second nomination.
Slaughter was a Supreme Court finalist in 2012. Former Gov. Mitch Daniels, however, chose Chief Justice Loretta Rush for the appointment.
Slaughter was indecisive about reapplying for the position this time.
“I figured my time had come and I had my shot in 2012,” Slaughter said. “I was glad I made my run, got my name out there and I wasn’t really looking to change.”
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Slaughter said he was persuaded to try again after many of his friends and colleagues urged him to reapply.
“There were some strong women in my life, not just my wife, but some in the profession I admire really encouraged me to apply,” Slaughter said.
In her opening remarks, U.S. Magistrate Judge Debra McVicker Lynch said Slaughter is a “perfect fit” for the Indiana Supreme Court. “He is an accomplished thinker and writer,” she said. “He loves law. He loves policy. He loves language. He loves people. He will be a terrific 109th justice for the Indiana Supreme Court.”
During her remarks Lynch brought some comic relief to the ceremony as she spoke of Slaughter’s love for the Chicago Cubs and Indiana University football to his “strange affliction” with Times New Roman font.
Rush, who administered the oath of office, said the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission put in many hours of work before selecting three finalists for Pence.
“The vetting process for appointing a new justice is a robust one,” Rush said.
Slaughter, 53, said he takes pride in being from Northwest Indiana.
“I’m a Lake County boy,” Slaughter said. I was born in Gary but grew up in Crown Point. I was fortunate to be raised in a family community committed to learning and a first-rate public education.”
Slaughter’s late father, Guy, was a longtime Post-Tribune editor and columnist who was based in Crown Point for much of his career at the newspaper.
Despite graduating from Crown Point High School more than 30 years ago, Slaughter said he still reads the Crown Point Star, “just to keep up on the hometown news.”
With no experience serving on the bench, Slaughter said there will be some challenges transitioning from being an attorney to a judge. “I’m grateful for my new colleagues on the bench,” he said. “I appreciate your patience as I climb a steep learning curve.”
Slaughter said he never envisioned he would have the opportunity to serve as a justice on the state’s highest court.
“Sometimes the stars align just right and you just never know,” he said. “It’s funny how life works out sometimes.”
During the ceremony a portrait of Slaughter was unveiled as he joined the tapestry of photos of former and current Indiana Supreme Court justices that cover the courtroom walls.
As a justice of Indiana Supreme Court, Slaughter said he hopes his colleagues and lawyers will recognize him as impartial and as someone who treats the lawyers and the parties they represent with respect.
“If you spend any time studying the Indiana Supreme Court and its history, we have a real distinguished pedigree,” Slaughter said. “A lot of our forbearers who served on this court have accomplished great things and earned a national reputation for our state supreme court. I hope to continue the same tradition.”
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