Debbie Guthrie-Jones, 58, of Indianapolis, passed away February 7, 2010. Debbie was born May 22, 1951 in New Castle, Indiana. Since 1986, she worked as a dedicated employee of the Indiana Supreme Court as an Administrative Assistant to its Division of State Court Administration. She served as Production and Distribution Coordinator for the Indiana Court Times and ably served in a staff support role for the Indiana Public Defenders Commission and the Court’s Records Management Committee. Indiana Division of State Court Administration Executive Director, Lilia Judson said, “Debbie will be sorely missed by all of us. She welcomed us to work, wished us well as we left for the day, and greeted all of our guests with a smile. Our thoughts are with Debbie’s family and friends, especially her husband Tom, who is our colleague at the Division.”

Debbie is survived by her husband Tom, whom she married on June 19, 1999 and who is employed as Records Manager for the Supreme Court.

Justice Richard M. Givan was Indiana’s ninety-sixth justice.  He was elected to the Court in 1968 and served continuously until his retirement in December 1994.  He served as the Chief Justice from November 1974 to March 1987.  He was the founding chairman of the Indiana Judicial Center.

Justice Givan was famous for his “Givanisms” including, “you pile on too many apples, you can’t shove the cart” and “it’s not that he doesn’t know there’s a problem, it’s that he doesn’t know that he doesn’t know that there is a problem.”

Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard, who served on the Court with Justice Givan from 1985-1994, said:  “This is difficult news for the Court to hear, so I know it is a very painful time for Justice Givan’s family.  I have wonderful memories of the time I shared with Justice Givan on the bench.  He was a thoroughly practical man, deeply rooted in Indiana’s legal community, and interested in new ways of improving courts.”

Born June 7, 1921, in Indianapolis, Richard Givan graduated from Decatur Central High School and received an LL.B. from Indiana University. He was the first person to serve as a law clerk at the Indiana Supreme Court.  He was admitted to the Indiana bar in 1952 and served as a deputy public defender and was an assistant attorney general.  He was elected to the Legislature and was ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee.  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, Justice Givan served as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was later a flight instructor with the Air Corps Reservists.  A fourth generation lawyer, his great-grandfather, Noah S. Givan, was a circuit judge in Dearborn County, Indiana before 1900.  His grandfather, Martin J. Givan, was a Dearborn County trial lawyer. His father, Clinton H. Givan, was a Marion County Superior Court Judge and practiced law in Indianapolis for forty years.

Indianapolis—Marion County Judge Joseph Norwood Myers Sr. died on April 6, 2009, at the age of 93. Judge Myers was a past-president of the Indianapolis Bar Association and had served as a vice president of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation. He was a judge in Indianapolis’ Municipal Court Room 1 for nearly 35 years, beginning in 1952.

Clerk Doris Davis

Tell City—Perry County Circuit Court Clerk Doris Davis died on May 1, 2009 after a long battle with cancer. She was named clerk in February 2008 and initially joined the clerk’s office as an employee in 1995. A funeral service was held on May 4 and in her honor the clerk’s office was closed all day and other offices were closed from 9:00 AM until Noon. Flags above the county courthouse were lowered to half staff.

Judge Robert E. Smith

Greenwood—Former Judge Robert E. Smith, who served as Judge of Johnson Superior Court No. 1 from 1968 – 1988, passed away on June 3, 2009.

Judge Hopper served as Judge of Madison County Court 1 from 1981-1990.  He also previously served as a Commissioner and Juvenile Referee in Hamilton County from 1991-1996. In 1997, Judge Hopper was again elected Judge of Madison County Court 1 and served in the capacity until December 31, 2008. In January 2009, Judge Hopper began his service as Judge of the Madison Superior Court 4, which was created by the legislature upon the abolition of the County Court.  He was also a 1986 Indiana Judicial College graduate.

Chief Justice Shepard was saddened to hear the news of Judge Hopper’s passing and sent condolences on behalf of the Court to Judge Hopper’s family and his Madison County court family.  On February 26th, Chief Justice Shepard opened the Court session with the following statement: “The Court meets this morning at a moment of sadness for the Indiana Judiciary due to the passing of Judge David Hopper, and we go about our assignment encouraged by the example of his contribution to Justice.”