Chief Justice Randall Shepard Hospitalized For Undisclosed Illness

The Indiana Law Blog has stumbled on to information indicating that Chief Justice Randall Shepard has been hospitalized for an undisclosed illness. A report in the Evansville Courier & Press disclosed his hospitalization at an Evansville courthouse room dedication in his honor this past week. The newspaper's Mark Wilson mentions his hospitalization half way through a story on the dedication:

The association then dedicated a restored Superior Courtroom in the Old Courthouse, now named the "Randall T. Shepard Courtroom," in honor of the Evansville native who currently serves as Indiana Chief Justice. Shepard was to have been guest speaker at the event but could not attend because he was in the hospital and watched the event on a laptop computer via the Internet.


However, Indiana Court of Appeals Judge Melissa May read a speech on his behalf.

Checking the oral arguments held by the Supreme Court since the week of April 20, the Indiana Law Blog notes Shepard's absence. Justice Dickson announced during oral arguments held over the past two weeks that the Chief Justice was absent due to illness. There have been no press releases posted on the Indiana courts website or other news stories explaining Shepard's illness or hospitalization. Shepard was appointed a Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court by Gov. Robert Orr in 1985 at the age of 38. Orr named him Chief Justice two years later.