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Tippecanoe County Superior Court Judge Steven Meyer returned to the courtroom on Tuesday to swear in a newly appointed Superior Court judge.
It was Meyer’s first public appearance in the courtroom since he and his wife were shot at their home on Jan. 18.
Meyer administered the oath of office to Superior Court 1 Judge Kevin McDaniel, who was appointed by Gov. Mike Braun to replace retired judge Randy Williams, who left the bench at the end of last year.
The private swearing-in ceremony was held Tuesday evening at the Tippecanoe County courthouse. The Indiana Supreme Court shared a video of the ceremony with media.
Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush, who is a former Tippecanoe County judge herself, also attended the event, speaking about the role judges play in the lives of the constituents they serve.
“You always have to remember as a judge to feel that hot breath of humanity on your neck because these people, they’re not just a case you’re trying to get through,” she said, “they’re a life that you’re trying to improve.”
Rush also spoke of Meyer’s courage in the midst of his recovery, reflecting on the words he shared with the public shortly after the shooting.
On Jan. 21, Meyer thanked the public and his colleagues for their support in his and his wife’s recovery. He said that he has strong faith in the judicial system and that the shooting did not shake his “belief in the importance of peacefully resolving disputes.”
Rush said it’s a priority to ensure judges feel safe when they work.
“We’re not to be deterred,” she said.
After being sworn in, McDaniel spoke about the legal career being a calling.
“This endeavor is not about me,” he said. “The work of the court belongs to the people it serves and this role demands fairness, humility and constant awareness of the real lives affected by every decision.”
The investigation into the shooting of Meyer and his wife is ongoing. Six people have been arrested in connection with the shooting, including a man who was set to stand trial before Meyer just two days after the shooting. The defendants are set to go to trial this spring in front of Cass County Superior Court 2 Judge Lisa Swaim, who’s been appointed as special judge for the case.
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