Northenor To Serve On Gov.'s Commission To Replace Chief Justice
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Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Former Kosciusko County auditor Jean Northenor is one of seven people who has been appointed by Governor Mitch Daniels to serve on a judicial nominating commission. The commission’s duties are to make a recommendation to Daniels for a replacement to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court created by Indiana Chief Justice Randall Shepard. Shepard announced earlier this month he will retire in March after serving 25 years as chief justice. His departure next year will permit Daniels to appoint Shepard’s replacement on the bench. Shepard was appointed to the court by Governor Robert D. Orr and took office Sept. 6, 1985, at the age of 38, becoming its 99th justice. He became its chief justice in March 1987. As a commission member, Northenor will work with six others to recommend a replacement to Daniels for the vacancy on the Supreme Court created by Shepard retiring. Those who are interested in filling the vacancy will submit an application to the chief justice’s office. Commission members will then narrow the names down to three options. The three names will then be submitted to the governor. The governor will select one name to fill the vacancy. After the governor selects the person to serve on the Supreme Court, the commission will then select a new chief justice. Applications are due for the vacancy to the chief justice’s office Jan. 27. The commission will then meet Feb. 8, 9 and 10 and Feb. 21 and 22 to come up with the three names to submit to the governor to fill the vacancy. Northenor, Warsaw, said she received a phone call two weeks ago from Earl Goode, Daniel’s chief of staff, asking her to be available for a phone call from the governor’s office. “The governor’s chief of staff said there was an opening on this commission and asked if I would be willing to take on that responsibility of serving on the commission as requested by the governor,” Northenor said. She received another call from the governor’s office the next day requesting her service. “It always is an honor if the governor asks you to do something and that he recognizes you are someone who will do a job that he expects to be done,” Northenor said. Northenor said she has known Daniels since he graduated from Princeton University. “I have had a lot of ties with Mitch Daniels over the years,” Northenor said. Northenor said qualities she is looking for in the replacement on the Supreme Court are someone who knows and follows the writings of the the Constitution, and is interested in justice for what comes before them. This is not the first time Northenor has served the state. Northenor served as Indiana Lottery Commission chairwoman for six years, resigning in December 2010, and is a former commissioner of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles for Indiana. She has received numerous state awards. Northenor received the Sagamore of the Wabash award from Governor Otis Bowen in 1980, from Governor Robert Orr in 1980, from Governor Evan Bayh in 1992 and from Governor Daniels in 2011. She received a Volunteer of the Year Award in 2004 from the State Chamber of Commerce, and 2010 Government Issues/Woman of the Year Award. Northenor served as Kosciusko County deputy auditor from 1972-1974; auditor from 1975-1983; executive vice president of Lake City Bank from 1983-2001; and a Lake City Bank board member from 2001-2005. She co-founded Kosciusko Leadership Academy and was a member of the Grace College Westminster Steering Committee. Northenor said she is honored and excited to serve on the commission. “When I resigned from the lottery commission at the end of 2010, I really thought I was done serving state government,” Northenor said. She said she never thought about doing anything further until she received the call from the governor’s office about serving on the commission. She said serving on the commission intrigued her because everything she has done in state government has been through the governor’s office. She said it will be a learning experience she looks forward to. “Serving on the commission will be different because I will be working in the courts system, something I have never done before,” Northenor said. Northenor said she knows Shepard and his wife. “I knew him as a young man when he first went on the Supreme Court and is a great guy and interesting man,” Northenor said. Northenor said she and Shepard’s wife worked together in economic development.
