Justice Dickson hailed for his civility, grace at retirement
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana Supreme Court Justice Brent Dickson ended his long tenure on the state's high court Friday with a retirement ceremony filled with praise from the court's other justices for his civility, grace and a legacy of nearly 900 legal opinions.
About 200 people packed the court's Statehouse courtroom to toast Dickson, whose tenure of more than 30 years is second only to the 35 years that 19th century Justice Isaac Blackford served on the state's court of last resort.
The court's four other justices took turns paying homage to Dickson, who is retiring before reaching the court's mandatory retirement age of 75 in July.
Justice Mark Massa recalled that he was a speechwriter for Republican Gov. Bob Orr in December 1985 when he wrote the news release announcing that Orr had chosen Dickson to succeed Justice Dixon Prentice on the court.
Massa said Dickson leaves the court with an impressive body of legal opinions and after hearing some 1,500 oral arguments in cases that reached the court.
"Brent Dickson has been an outstanding scholar, with common sense and practical judgment," he said. "... We will miss his wisdom, his uncommon grace and his cheer."
Justice Robert Rucker noted that Dickson is an accomplished pianist who earned the nickname "Fingers" for his love of ragtime tunes, and said some day they may perform as a Jazz duo, with Rucker on bass.
He called Dickson "a delightful colleague," a dear friend and "a cool, collected, unpretentious, rock-solid steady hand."
Chief Justice Loretta Rush thanked Dickson for helping "institutionalize civility" on the court and noted his habit of leaving comments, some witty, on other justices' writings, and always written in his favored red ink.
"I'll never forget the rave reviews I got for my first dissent, in a smoking ban case where he wrote the majority opinion. His comment back to me was, 'Not bad for a rookie dissent,'" Rush said, drawing chuckles from the audience.
Dickson later offered farewell remarks to the gathering that included lawmakers, several federal judges and members of the state's appeals and tax courts.
He choked up as he thanked his staff, law clerks, colleagues and others for their assistance over the years.
"As I step down from this bench today I do feel an enormous sense of gratitude," he said.
Gov. Mike Pence told the gathering that Dickson had amassed "a career in public service which will inspire Hoosiers for generations to come."
The governor presented both Dickson and his wife, Jan, with Sagamore of the Wabash awards - among Indiana's highest honors. Jan Aikman Dickson is founder of the Judicial Family Institute, a national group that assists judicial households and their extended families.
Pence has until May 11 to choose Dickson's successor from three finalists selected by Indiana's Judicial Nominating Commission: St. Joseph Superior Judge Steven L. Hostetler, Boone Superior Judge Matthew C. Kincaid and Indianapolis attorney Geoffrey G. Slaughter.