Indiana Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard

Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard will receive an honorary degree from the University of Notre Dame on May 17th.  The 164th University Commencement Ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. in the Joyce Center on the South Bend campus. 

Chief Justice Shepard extends his congratulations to the 2,900 students receiving degrees over the commencement weekend.  “It is with great pleasure that I join the class of 2009 on this joyful weekend.  They begin the next phase of their lives at a time when there is uncertainty about the economy and job prospects may be frustrating.  I encourage them to move forward with great hope and enthusiasm.  Their decision to invest in higher education is more valuable than ever and will undoubtedly pay off.” 

Originally from Evansville, Chief Justice Shepard was appointed to the Indiana Supreme Court by Governor Robert D. Orr in 1985 at the age of 38. He became Chief Justice of Indiana in March 1987.  A seventh generation Hoosier, he graduated from Princeton University cum laude and from the Yale Law School. He earned a Master of Laws degree in the judicial process from the University of Virginia.  In May 2009, Chief Justice Shepard received an honorary degree from the University of Evansville.