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Justice Steven H. David, J.D. ’82, heard his final oral argument as a member of the Indiana Supreme Court on June 30 in Lebanon, Indiana. Justice David served on the bench in Boone County before being elevated to the high court in 2010.

During brief remarks prior to the argument, Justice David said he was a first-generation college student and was encouraged by his parents to pursue higher education. Now there are four lawyers in his family, he said with pride. The argument took place at Lebanon High School, where principal Kevin O’Rourke noted how appropriate it was for Justice David’s final argument to take place in a school, as he is a well-known advocate for young people.

In the photo at left, Justice David is with his current judicial extern, several attorneys who have served as judicial externs in his chambers, and his current law clerk. From left are Josh Woodward, J.D. ’17; Thomas Buchanan, J.D. ’15; Justice David; Amanda Terrell, J.D. ’15; Sundeep Singh, J.D. ’20; current IU McKinney student Anna Schuler; and law clerk Colleen Morrison, J.D. ’21.

The Indiana Supreme Court rarely travels for oral arguments. The argument in Lebanon marked the 47^th time the court had made such a journey since 1994. The case was James E. McCoy v. State of Indiana, a case involving Miranda rights and the Indiana case, Pirtle v. State.

Justice David is the 106^th justice on the Indiana Supreme Court and currently the longest-serving. After graduating from IU McKinney, Justice David served in the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps on active duty until 1986 and on reserve duty until he joined the high court. He was deployed after September 11 to Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, where he served as trial counsel, defense counsel, and military judge and commander.

Justice David was born in Allen County, grew up in Bartholomew County, and has lived in Boone County, where he served as a trial court judge, for 22 years. His civilian legal career began in Columbus, Indiana, where he focused on personal injury, family law, and civil litigation. He later became in-house counsel for Mayflower Transit before moving to Boone County.

As an adjunct professor at IU McKinney, Justice David teaches contract law for Master of Laws students, and evidence. He has provided opportunities for LL.M. students through intensive three-day immersion programs and has visited some of his former students in their home countries after they complete their legal studies in Indianapolis. He delivered the address during the law school’s graduation celebration program in 2017.

After retiring, Justice David has said he intends to serve as a senior judge, will continue to serve as chair of the Commission on Equity and Access and the Indiana Conference on Legal Education Opportunity.