[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 44 (Friday, March 16, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E373]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO RANDALL T. SHEPARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TODD ROKITA

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 16, 2012

  Mr. ROKITA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor an 
incredible seventh generation Hoosier, Randall T. Shepard, upon his 
retirement as Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court.
  Chief Justice Shepard's leadership skills were tested and noticed 
early in his life when he received his Eagle Scout designation. He 
received his under-graduate degree from Princeton University in 1969; 
his Law degree from Yale Law School in 1972; and his Masters of Law 
degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1995. He served 
as Vanderburgh County Superior Court Judge from 1980 1985. He was 
appointed by Governor Robert D. Orr as the 99th Justice of the Indiana 
Supreme Court on September 6, 1985. In March of 1987 Justice Shepard 
became the youngest State Chief Justice and has served in that capacity 
since, making him the longest serving Chief Justice in the country.
  His love for the Judiciary, coupled with his incredible intellect and 
quiet thoughtful demeanor, Justice Shepard has forever left his stamp 
on the Indiana Supreme Court. ``C J'', as he is affectionately called 
on the third floor of the Indiana Statehouse, has opened those imposing 
doors to television cameras and webcasts during arguments. He also 
directed changes that led to fewer criminal appeals and more civil 
cases being heard by the Supreme Court. He stated he is most proud that 
during his years on the bench Indiana has better court-related programs 
for children and domestic violence victims; increased professional 
development for judges; and a wider range of sentencing options.
  Indiana has not been able to keep Justice Shepard solely to itself. 
He is recognized as a national authority on judicial ethics and legal 
professionalism. In 2006, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice and fellow 
Hoosier, John Roberts, appointed him to the U.S. Judicial Conference 
Advisory Committee of Civil Rules. In 2009, Justice Shepard was the 
recipient of the national Dwight D. Opperman Award for Judicial 
Excellence. As a Justice, Mr. Shepard has authored more than 850 
majority opinions and has published more than 40 Law Review articles.
  All Hoosiers must now, reluctantly, give ``C J'' back to his wife, 
Amy McDonnell, and their daughter, Martha. We do so knowing that the 
state of the Judiciary in Indiana has been led by the best of the best 
these last twenty-five years. We wish him relaxing days with more time 
to spend on his love of historic preservation and God's richest 
blessings in his retirement. He will be greatly missed.

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