Randall Terry Shepard, Chief Justice
(Ninety-ninth Justice)

Randall T. Shepard of Evansville was appointed to the Indiana Supreme Court by Governor Robert D. Orr in 1985 at the age of 38. He became Chief Justice of Indiana in March 1987.

A seventh generation Hoosier, Shepard graduated from Princeton University cum laude and from the Yale Law School. He earned a Master of Laws degree in the judicial process from the University of Virginia.

Shepard was Judge of the Vanderburgh Superior Court from 1980 until his appointment. He earlier served as executive assistant to Mayor Russell Lloyd of Evansville and as special assistant to the Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Chief Justice Shepard was also Trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He served as chair of the ABA Appellate Judges Conference and of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. During 2005-06, Shepard served as President of the National Conference of Chief Justices. Chief Justice John Roberts recently appointed him to the U.S. Judicial Conference Advisory Committee on Civil Rules.

He teaches periodically at the law schools of NYU and Yale.

He is married and has one daughter.

Indiana Commission on Local Government Reform Recommendations
Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard is a co-chair with former Governor Joe Kernan of the Indiana Commission on Local Government Reform.

Indiana Chamber Named Former Gov. Kernan and Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Shepard Government Leaders of the Year
The duo who led the bipartisan Indiana Commission on Local Government Reform in pushing for a smarter and more effective system have each garnered the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s 2008 Government Leader of the Year award. Former Indiana Gov. Joe Kernan and Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall Shepard received the honor at the Chamber’s 19th Annual Awards Dinner.