Indiana Judicial Branch reappoints Loretta Rush as chief justice

INDIANAPOLIS — Officials with the Indiana Judicial Branch announced on Wednesday that Loretta Rush was unanimously voted by the Judicial Nominating Commission to be reappointed as the chief justice for the Indiana Supreme Court.

According to a news release, Rush was first appointed to the supreme court in 2012 and was selected as the chief justice in 2014. Rush was reappointed to the position in 2019.

“The past decade has marked a significant evolution in our judicial branch. Through the unwavering dedication of my appellate court colleagues, our trial court judges, and staff across the state, we’ve worked to strengthen our judicial system,” Rush said in the release. “But important work remains, and I look forward to continuing our efforts.”

The release said over the last decade, Rush oversaw the launch of pretrial and problem-solving court initiatives, as well as the finalization of statewide electronic filing and unified case management systems, the overhaul of the administrative agency structure and the enhancement of access to justice for all.

Rush also helped lead efforts to transform how courts address individuals with behavioral health issues and substance use disorders.

The release said that the commission recruits candidates for appellate judicial positions and appoints the state’s chief justice every five years.

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