With the retirement of Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard only a few weeks away, we’re quickly approaching the end of an era for Indiana’s judiciary system. The House of Representatives took time this week to honor Chief Justice Shepard for his 25 years of service to Hoosiers on the Supreme Court. As a fellow Evansville native, it was a pleasure to share with my colleagues on the House floor the impact he’s made on southwestern Indiana. When I was a student at Purdue, I was inspired by Shepard, a young Princeton and Yale graduate who returned to his hometown to serve as the executive assistant to Mayor Russell Lloyd, Sr. Since that time, he’s made numerous contributions to the people of Evansville. The Randall T. Shepard Academy for Law and Social Justice teaches high school students in Vanderburgh County the value of civic duty. His commitment to historic preservation in Evansville and across the state is unwavering, as evidenced by his position as the founding chairman of the Indiana Courthouse Preservation Commission. As the longest serving chief justice of a state Supreme Court in the U.S., Randy Shepard profoundly shaped Indiana’s court system. Among his many achievements is the modernization of the judiciary through the use of technology. He also oversaw the expansion of the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, a corps of volunteers who represent the best interests of children in court proceedings. The example set by Chief Justice Shepard has encouraged many people to enter public service, including myself. Evansville residents, and indeed all Hoosiers, are fortunate to have a public servant as dedicated as Randy Shepard. His reassuring presence on our state’s highest court will be missed, but we are all confident his legacy of responsible leadership will continue for years to come. While honoring the chief justice was certainly one of the highlights of the week, the General Assembly has also been moving legislation at an accelerated pace in an effort to adjourn three days early by March 9. Two bills I authored passed the Senate on final reading this week. House Bill (HB) 1003 would allow members of government boards to attend meetings electronically, provided they comply with all Open Door Laws. A portion of the board must be physically present to conduct a meeting, and each member must physically attend at least one meeting per year. This legislation would result in greater efficiency on government boards while maintaining public transparency. My other bill to provide information for long-term medical care options passed the Senate unanimously. HB 1211 would require Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), the most knowledgeable group on senior healthcare, to compile lists of local long-term care facilities to be distributed to patients at nursing homes and hospitals. When individuals have the best information available, they can the most appropriate decisions for their care. We only have a couple of weeks left in the 2012 Legislative Session. If you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts, please contact me by phone at 317-232-9769 or by email at h78@in.gov. Thank you for your support as I continue to work to address your concerns in the Indiana House. -30- Crouch Capitol Connection, Honoring Chief Justice Shepard, 2-22-12.doc |
