Marion Superior Judge Robert R. Altice Jr., public defender Patricia Caress McMath and Madison Circuit Judge Rudolph R. Pyle III have been chosen as finalists for the Indiana Court of Appeals.

The Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission announced the three finalists around 4:30 p.m. Monday. The commission interviewed the semi-finalists earlier in the afternoon.

Now it’s up to Gov. Mitch Daniels to decide who will fill Judge Carr Darden’s spot on the appellate bench. He’s retiring in July.

Abigail Lawlis Kuzma, who works in the Office of the Indiana Attorney General’s consumer protection division, and Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law professor Joel M. Schumm were the other semi-finalists for the judgeship.

Daniels has 60 days from the date he receives the names of the finalists from the commission to make the appointment.