WELL KNOWN AND HIGHLY RESPECTED LOCAL ATTORNEY CHARLES BERGER VIE FOR APPOINTMENT TO NOMINATING COMMISSION.
Lawyers mostly in southern Indiana are selecting one of their peers to have a say in who will be the next justice appointed to the Indiana Supreme Court.
Four candidates are seeking to replace Stephen L. Williams of Terre Haute on the Judicial Nominating Commission. Williams’ term expires at the end of the year. The commission is expected early next year to interview applicants to replace Justice Brent Dickson, who this week announced he will retire in the spring. The commission will select three finalists from whom Gov. Mike Pence will appoint the next justice.
Vying to replace Williams on the commission are Charles L. Berger, Evansville; Daniel E. Moore, Jeffersonville; Ross E. Rudolph, Evansville; and John M. Westercamp, Zionsville.
Williams is the attorney-elected commission representative from Court of Appeals 1st District. Attorneys in the first district may return ballots to the Supreme Court Clerk’s Office by 4 p.m. Nov. 20. Votes will be counted and a winner announced after that time. Ballots were mailed to eligible attorneys in October.
The judicial selection process to replace Dickson will begin Thursday, when applications will be made available on the Supreme Court website. The Judicial Nominating Commission is expected to interview applicants seeking Dickson’s position sometime in January.
Meanwhile, the term of gubernatorial appointee Tom Rose of Indianapolis, representing COA’s 2nd District, also expires at the end of the year. Gov. Mike Pence has yet to announce an appointment.
The commission consists of three non-lawyer members appointed by the governor, three attorney members elected by eligible attorneys, and is chaired by the chief justice. Members are chosen and elected in staggered terms from each of the state’s three geographical COA districts.
