Nearly 200 Indiana judges participated in a security webinar hosted by Chief Justice Loretta Rush following the recent shooting of Tippecanoe Superior Court 2 Judge Steve Meyer and his wife Kim at their Lafayette home. Both are currently recovering from their injuries.
Chief Justice Rush expressed concern for the safety of judges across the state, stating, “I worry about the safety of all our judges. Any violence against a judge or a judge’s family is completely unacceptable.” She urged her colleagues to “please remain vigilant” regarding their own security and convened the webinar from Tippecanoe County to address concerns and discuss ongoing efforts to enhance judicial security statewide.
Joining Chief Justice Rush were Tippecanoe County Circuit Court Judge Sean Persin and security expert James Hamilton for a 30-minute live discussion. The event follows findings from a December 2023 survey conducted by the Supreme Court’s Office of Judicial Administration through the Indiana Judicial Conference Court Security Committee. Of 214 responding judges, more than 150 reported being targeted by threats, with some describing incidents such as threats to set them on fire or blow up their homes. At that time, funding was being sought for security grants aimed at protecting judicial officers throughout Indiana.
Chief Justice Rush highlighted continued efforts to support judicial safety: “We are grateful for all law enforcement that provide security in courthouses across the state. We want law enforcement to have the resources to safely protect judges, staff, attorneys, and the litigants who come to court.”
Law enforcement has made arrests related to the shooting incident involving Judge Meyer and his wife. Chief Justice Rush acknowledged their work and emphasized her focus on supporting those affected.
Procedurally, a request has been made for a special judge in this case (26S-SJ-20), with an order expected Monday from the Indiana Supreme Court’s administrative office. The appointed special judge will not be able to answer questions about the case due to ethical guidelines but scheduling and procedural updates will be available via mycase.in.gov. The Supreme Court’s Office of Communication will assist with media inquiries as proceedings continue.