INDIANAPOLIS | Loretta Rush vowed to respect the rule of law and promote "fair, impartial, effective justice" as the new chief justice of Indiana.
Rush was sworn-in Monday by Gov. Mike Pence for a five-year term as leader of the state's judicial branch during an intimate ceremony in the Supreme Court's Statehouse law library attended by current and former members of the state's high court, judges of the Indiana Court of Appeals and Rush's family.
The new chief justice said she selected the unusually small setting because she wanted to be surrounded by the rulings of her predecessors.
"I love these law books and what they represent for our profession, which is almost 200 years of Indiana citizens coming to the courts seeking just decisions," Rush said.
Rush acknowledged the historic nature of her appointment as Indiana's first female chief justice and only the second woman ever to serve on the Supreme Court, but seemed more eager to get back to engaging in "lively but collegial" discussions with her fellow justices than in taking a personal victory lap.
"In my almost two years on this court and 30 years as a lawyer and trial judge, I've learned that the strength of our Supreme Court is based on the collective work and wisdom of the five justices," she said.
In addition to leading the state's high court, Rush as chief justice oversees the entire state court system, attorney discipline and a bevy of official and ceremonial duties.
She promised on her watch Indiana courts will remain accessible, fair and transparent; become more efficient through better use of technology; feature increased diversity among the bench and bar; offer more specialty courts; and enable Hoosiers with limited resources equal access to justice.
The state's 562 local judicial officers and their staff — "who are the heart and soul of our Indiana judiciary" — also will get the support they need to do their jobs well and serve Hoosiers, Rush said.
Rush, who attended Munster's Frank H. Hammond Elementary School during three years living in Lake County as a child, replaces Chief Justice Brent Dickson, a Hobart native, who is stepping down after just two years as chief justice to focus on legal research and opinion writing ahead of his expected 2016 retirement.
Dickson said that while all of his Supreme Court colleagues could have done a good job as chief justice, Rush is "remarkably well-equipped to serve the court and Hoosiers everywhere.
"She is widely respected as a fair and impartial jurist, she is meticulous in her legal research and writing, she's an innovator and comfortable with technology, she brings common sense and respect for frugal stewardship and she is gifted with uncommon grace and a heart for service," Dickson said. "And, I might add, she can be a dynamo."
"I am confident that under Chief Justice Loretta Rush the court and the Indiana judiciary will have an exceptionally bright future."
Pence agreed, noting that Rush's experience, competence, respect for precedent, energy, dignity and work ethic effectively position her to continue the Supreme Court's "longstanding tradition of excellence."
"As her unanimous selection by the Judicial Nominating Commission attests, Loretta Rush has been selected among an extraordinarily talented group of candidates because, quite simply, she was the best choice to lead the best state supreme court in America as its chief justice," Pence said.
The Republican governor also praised Dickson for his work as chief justice and for the 28 years he has served on the Supreme Court.
"Your independent, impartial, thoughtful and dedicated leadership has been a powerful inspiration, not just to your colleagues but to us all," Pence said. "Your grace, dignity and sound judgment not only commanded the respect and admiration of your colleagues and won their deepest personal affections, but (also) contributed immeasurably to the reputation of the Supreme Court of the State of Indiana and the people of Indiana will always be in your debt."