Indiana Names First Female Supreme Court Chief Justice

Indiana Supreme Court Justice Loretta Rush has been chosen to lead the court as the state's first female chief justice.

The Judicial Nominating Commission on Wednesday chose Rush to succeed Justice Brent Dickson as the high court's leader over fellow justices Mark Massa, Steven David and Robert Rucker.

Dickson announced in June that he would step down as chief justice but remain an associate justice.

Dickson succeeded Randall Shepard as chief justice in 2012. He faces mandatory retirement when he turns 75 in 2016.
 
Rush is a former Tippecanoe County judge and was appointed by former Gov. Mitch Daniels in 2012. She is the first woman to serve on the state Supreme Court since Myra Selby stepped down in 1999 after five years on the bench.