INDIANAPOLIS—The 2021-2022 fiscal year saw the Indiana Supreme Court continue a trend of receiving fewer cases and included the last oral argument heard by now-retired Justice Steven David.Â
According to the court’s annual report, it received 634 cases, a number significantly lower than the 913 received in 2019-2020 and almost 100 less than in 2020-2021.​​ The vast majority—519, to be exact—were either criminal or civil.
The Indiana Supreme Court is the most historically original room in the Indiana Statehouse, according to Goben. The wooden chairs seen in the photo are (for the most part) the original chairs from 1888. The court is 134 years old and the longest running court in the country. Â
“This is the most historically original space in the building,†Goben said. “The least has changed in this room.â€
Tabby Fitzgerald, TheStatehouseFile.com
There was also a decrease in oral arguments as compared to previous years.
Thirty of the 39 non-per curiammajority opinions were unanimous in 2021-2022—the same percentage share as the year prior. (A per curiam decision is when the court unanimously presents a decision without noting which justice is the author.)
The split of who wrote majority opinions was even, as each justice wrote nine, except for Justice Geoffrey Slaughter, who issued eight.
In honor of David, the lone argument not held virtually or in the Supreme Court Courtroom was at Lebanon High School in Boone County.
David was Boone County circuit judge for 15 years, beginning in 1995, according to the court’s report. “This was the final argument that Justice David would hear before his retirement in August 2022.â€
The report also includes information on the Office of Judicial Administration.
FOOTNOTE: Jack Sells is a reporter at TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
