Richard M. Givan

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Richard Martin Givan[4] (June 7, 1921 – July 22, 2009) served as the 96th Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court from January 6, 1969, until his retirement December 31, 1994. He served as chief justice from 1974 until March 1987.

Richard M. Givan
Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice
In office
1974 – March, 1987
Preceded byNorman Arterburn [1]
Succeeded byRandall T. Shepard[2]
Indiana Supreme Court Justice
In office
January 6, 1969 – December 31, 1994
Preceded byDavid Lewis[3]
Succeeded byMyra Selby
Personal details
Born(1921-06-07)June 7, 1921
Indianapolis, Indiana
DiedJuly 22, 2009(2009-07-22) (aged 88)
Plainfield, Indiana
Alma materIndiana University
OccupationLawyer
Judge

Early life edit

Givan was born June 7, 1921, in Indianapolis. He graduated from Decatur Central High School in Indianapolis in 1939. He received an LL.B. from Indiana University in 1951, and was admitted to the Indiana bar in 1952.[5]

While he was a law student, he was assistant librarian for the Indiana Supreme Court in 1949, and then became a research assistant for the Indiana Supreme Court. He was appointed deputy public defender of Indiana after graduation from law school and served in that post until 1954.

Career edit

From 1954 to 1966, he was Assistant Attorney General of Indiana, pleading cases before both the Indiana and Supreme Courts. In 1967, he was a representative and ranking member of the Judiciary Committee in the Indiana Legislature. He was elected to the Indiana Supreme Court in 1968 and served continuously until his retirement in December 1994. He was also chairman of the Board of Directors of the Indiana Judicial Conference from 1974 to 1987, served on the Board of Managers of the Indiana Judges Association from 1975 to 1987, and became an Indiana Judicial College Graduate in 1989.

In addition to his legal career, Givan served as a pilot in the U.S. United States Army Air Forces during World War II and was later a flight instructor with the Air Forces Reservists.

Controversy edit

In 1984, a group known as "Remember Baby Doe - Retire Judge Givan Committee" sought to ouster Givan from his position as Chief Justice after the Indiana Supreme Court refused to hear a case regarding the death of an infant with Down syndrome. The group placed several advertisements in Indiana newspapers and asked voters to oppose Givan in the November 6 election. Givan denied claims that the decision established "quality of life" as a judicial criterion. Givan explained that the Supreme Court was only asked to determine if the original court had jurisdiction over the matter.[6]

Death edit

Richard Givan died on July 21, 2009, in Plainfield, Indiana. On July 23, 2009, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels ordered all flags at the Statehouse and across the state be flown at half-mast as a tribute to Chief Justice Givan. The flags were to remain at half-mast through July 28, 2009, the date of Givan's funeral.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ "Indiana Supreme Court Justice Biographies". Retrieved 24 July 2009.
  2. ^ "Supreme Court Justices". Archived from the original on 12 December 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  3. ^ "Supreme Court Justices". Archived from the original on 12 December 2008. Retrieved 28 January 2009.
  4. ^ Who's Who in American Law 1992-1993. Marquis Who's Who. 1991. p. 365.
  5. ^ "Indiana Supreme Court Justice Biographies". Archived from the original on 28 October 2008. Retrieved 28 January 2009.
  6. ^ AP (1984-10-04). "GROUP SEEKS OUSTER OF JUDGE IN 'BABY DOE' CASE". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 January 2009.
  7. ^ "Flags lowered for Ind. chief justice". www.wishtv.com. Archived from the original on 2009-07-26.
Political offices
Preceded by
Norman Arterburn
Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court
1974–1987
Succeeded by