News Archive

Justice Brent Dickson, ’68, has announced that he will retire from the Indiana Supreme Court in Spring 2016. He led the high court from May 2012 until August 2014.

“An alumnus of our school, Justice Brent Dickson has set a tremendous example for our students to emulate, not only as a member of the bench and the bar, but also as a person,” said IU McKinney Dean Andrew R. Klein. “Through his longtime service on the Indiana Supreme Court, including service as Chief Justice, he has made an outstanding contribution to the State of Indiana. While it is a loss for someone of Justice Dickson’s caliber as a jurist to step away from the bench, I must say that I am happy for him and his wife, Jan, and all of us at the law school wish them the best in his retirement.”

Among his accomplishments during his time as chief justice, Dickson expanded efforts to bring the court’s technology system to all Indiana courts, revitalized the use of volunteer attorneys to provide civil legal aid to the needy, and initiated the reform of Indiana’s pre-trial release system to enhance public safety, reduce taxpayer expense and provide greater fairness.

“Justice Brent Dickson’s announcement today that he will be retiring from the Indiana Supreme Court next year is a singular milestone in Indiana legal history,” said Professor Frank Sullivan, Jr., himself a former justice on the high court. “He is the second-longest serving justice in the Court’s history; only Justice Isaac Blackford (1817-1853) served longer. But more than his longevity, Justice Dickson will be remembered for his many precedent-setting opinions for the Court, especially in the area of Indiana constitutional law, and for his unflagging commitment to promoting civility in the Indiana legal community. Nor should this opportunity pass without saluting Justice Dickson’s wife, Jan Aikman Dickson, for her years of noteworthy service addressing the special challenges of judicial family life.”

Justice Dickson has taught as an adjunct professor at IU McKinney many times, including the Fall semesters of 1993 and 1994, and the Spring semesters of 1996 through 1999. He was the recipient of the law school’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 1999.

Justice Dickson received his undergraduate degree from Purdue University. After 17 years as a general practitioner in Lafayette, he was elevated to the high court by Governor Robert D. Orr in January 1986. He is known for his work aimed at fostering attorney civility, and is co-founder of the Sagamore Chapter of the American Inns of Court in Indianapolis. He is equally committed to enforcing and enhancing high standards for the legal profession, and has long served as the court’s liaison to the Disciplinary Commission and the Board of Law Examiners.

Justice Dickson is one of three IU McKinney alumni who currently serve on the state’s high court. Justice Steven David, ‘82, was appointed in 2010. Justice Mark Massa, ‘89, was appointed in 2012.

At the time Justice Dickson announced he would step down from leading the high court, he said that he would remain on the bench until he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 in July 2016.