Justice candidates at a glance

Here is a look at the 10 semifinalists selected July 18 to fill the pending Indiana Supreme Court vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Frank Sullivan Jr. Highlights of candidate interviews with the Judicial Nominating Commission can be read here.
 

Cale Bradford

Age: 52

Profession: Indiana Court of Appeals judge

On technology: “I’m proud to say I was on the ground floor of JTAC. I’ll talk to you all day long about JTAC if you let me.”

Application factoid: “My daughter thought I should point out that I am a regular blood donor with the Indiana Blood Center.”

 

Frances Gull

Age: 53

Profession: Allen Superior judge

On her workload of 400 cases in eight years as a deputy prosecutor: “There were a couple of times where I had a trial every day.”

Application factoid: “I was selected to participate in a team tandem parachute jump with the elite United States Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, in Fort Knox, Kentucky.”

 

Erin Reilly Lewis

Age: 38

Profession: Associate general counsel, Indiana University Health

On being the youngest of 22 applicants: “I do think I have a fair amount of mileage in my 13 years experience that I think a lot of others might not have.”

Application factoid: Born to a military family on an Air Force base in Wiesbaden, Germany; has lived abroad in Greece and Ireland, as well as in Montana and Wisconsin.

 

Andrielle Metzel

Age: 42

Profession: Partner at Benesch

On helping found the Leadership Development Academy: “Sometimes when you are trying to inspire others, you inspire yourself.”

Application factoid: “In 2010, I traveled to China with Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels as part of a delegation … seeking to increase global business and investment opportunities for businesses based in Indiana.”

 

Steven Nation

Age: 62

Profession: Hamilton Superior judge

On inspiring confidence in the legal system: “We do that by making very clear decisions. We do that by opening up discussions with citizens.”

Application factoid: “Coached Noblesville Grinders Football (Grades 4, 5 &6), Noblesville Elementary Soccer League, and Noblesville Baseball League.”

 

Loretta Rush

Age: 54

Profession: Tippecanoe Superior judge

On sentencing reform: “I really think we need to push for non-incarceration sentencing options. … It really does affect our community and the children (of those incarcerated).”

Application factoid: “I have served as a coach, room mother and volunteer with our children. … Additional leisure activities include reading, cooking, quilting, and an occasional sprint triathlon.”

 

Geoffrey Slaughter

Age: 49

Profession: Partner, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

On jurisprudence from the bench: “The obligation of a judge, it seems to me, first and foremost is the intention of those who drafted the document in question.”

Application factoid: “Since approximately 2005, I have judged the American Legion’s national oratorical competition (for high school students), held each year in Indianapolis.”

 

Marianne Vorhees

Age: 53

Profession: Delaware Circuit judge

On the most important attributes for a judge: “To me, that’s the highest compliment a judge can have – you’re fair.”

Application factoid: “Served on the Notre Dame Lawyer … I was the first woman to serve as Editor-In-Chief of what we renamed The Notre Dame Law Review during my third year.”

 

Mary Willis

Age: 45

Profession: Henry Circuit judge

On the need to extend Odyssey statewide: “We need to lift the court records from those dusty courthouse basements to the cloud, literally.”

Application factoid: “My favorite cases are the cases involving self-represented litigants. They are the greatest opportunity to teach the community that I live in about the law.”

 

John Young

Age: 49

Profession: Partner, Young & Young Attorneys

On the court’s administrative functions: “I think I could be very helpful in the business end of things, administering personnel and administering strategic planning.”

Application factoid: Grandfather, Howard S. Young Sr., stepped down as justice of the Indiana Supreme Court and joined his son, Howard S. Young Jr., in practice in 1954.