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Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush highlighted the efforts of prosecutors and public defenders across the state Wednesday afternoon during her 2026 State of the Judiciary address.
Members of the Indiana General Assembly met in the chambers of the Indiana House of Representatives in the Statehouse to hear from Rush as she delivered her 12th address, titled, “Justice in the Heartland.”
Rush’s address was set against the backdrop of a yearslong project that was just completed: the state’s Courthouse Art Project, which celebrates Indiana’s 92 counties and the unique courthouses that stand as pillars of justice and community around the Hoosier State.
The project, led by Church Church Hittle and Antrim partner Doug Church, took around 18 years to complete, and honors the past, present, and future of Indiana’s legal system.
“[Church] calls them our ‘secular cathedrals.’ It’s a fitting description—they lift our eyes upward and remind us that justice is a public promise that is both visible and tangible,” Rush said.
In years past, Rush has highlighted technology as a driving force for efficiency and accessibility, as well as the work state judges have done to serve community needs.
This year, her focus turned to two groups of legal professionals whom she said “sit on opposite sides of the courtroom as rivals” but are allies in their dedication to resolving disputes under the rule of law.
The work of prosecutors and public defenders, she said, “is at the center of the constitutional balance between accountability and liberty. It’s what allows us to enjoy life in a safe and fair society.”
Public safety
In Cass County, Rush highlighted the work of the county prosecutor, public defender, pretrial director and judge for their pretrial program, which prioritizes public safety by addressing the needs of defendants through key pillars like accountability, personal responsibility and mercy.
The program so far has produced encouraging results: Since 2022, the program has resulted in 95% court attendance, a 90% arrest-free rate and an 86% reduction in pretrial detention.
In total, she said the program has saved the county nearly $6 million because it’s reduced jail bed costs, eliminating 408 years of incarceration.
INJail
Rush also highlighted the strides made through the state’s newly implemented INJail digital jail management system.
The system, which integrates the various jail management systems used across the state, helps guarantee that accurate and timely information is shared for the sake of public safety.
The first of its kind in the United States, INJail is live in nine counties and headed to 12 more in the near future. An additional 29 have also expressed interest in adopting the system, Rush said.
Public defenders
In Vigo County, the work of the county’s public defender and a parent advocate have changed the life of one woman for the better, Rush told the audience.
Through a pilot program of the Commission on Court Appointed Attorneys that helps parents navigate the child welfare system, public defender Katie Butwin and advocate Janet McBride were able to help a mom receive treatment, secure housing, find a job and reunite with her children.
Because of the program, child welfare cases are closing an average 65 days sooner in the county, Rush announced. Reunification is increasing by 14%, and the Vigo County Council is now funding three more positions for the initiative.
Attorney shortage
This year, the Commission on Indiana’s Legal Future published its final report recommending ways the state can address the ongoing attorney shortage.
Rush praised the commission for its work to identify potential solutions, with a special show of gratitude to Indiana Supreme Court Chief Administrative Officer Justin Forkner, who helped lead the commission’s efforts.
In concluding the address, Rush pointed back to the state’s county courthouse art project, encouraging anyone who passes by these “secular cathedrals” to consider a moment of thanks for those who dedicate their careers to “safeguard liberties, uphold justice and ensure that every Hoosier lives in a community grounded in fairness, dignity and peace.”
“All these examples I’ve shared today affirm a central truth: The work of our judiciary—to keep the legal system in balance, ensure public safety, and resolve conflicts peacefully—is more than a profession,” she said. “It is a calling.”
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