Steven David
Steven David addresses the Press, following a hearing, at Guantanamo, on June 5th, 2008
Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court
In office
October 18, 2010[1] – August 31, 2022
Nominated byMitch Daniels
Preceded byTheodore R. Boehm
Succeeded byDerek R. Molter
Personal details
Born1957 (age 66–67)
Allen County, Indiana
NationalityAmerican
Occupationmilitary officer, judge
Known forIndiana Supreme Court, military service

Steven H. David (born 1957) is a former justice of the Indiana Supreme Court. David previously served as a lawyer and military officer. He retired from the United States Army Reserve in September 2010 with the rank of colonel.[2][3][4]

Biography

Justice David was born in Allen County, Indiana, and raised in Bartholomew County, Indiana.[5]

Education

He graduated magna cum laude from Murray State University as a Distinguished Military Graduate on an R.O.T.C. scholarship. He earned his law degree from Robert H. McKinney School of Law. He is also a graduate of the Indiana Judicial College and the Graduate Program for Indiana Judges.[5]

Legal career

Justice David's 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, Inc., before moving to Boone County where he was elected Circuit Court Judge. As a trial court judge, he presided over civil, criminal, family, and juvenile matters.

David served as a Chief Defense Counsel for prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp when they were tried by the Guantanamo military commission. While serving in that capacity, David complained in 2008 that he lacked sufficient defense lawyers and other resources to defend the prisoners.[6][7][8] David personally represented Salim Ahmed Hamdan, Osama bin Laden's driver. After the commission convicted Hamdan, David broadly criticized the commission's loose procedures, including acceptance of hearsay and secret testimony, restrictions on media coverage, and suppression of evidence of abusive interrogations. He called for scrapping the commission system.[9]

In October 2010, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels appointed David to the Indiana Supreme Court.[10] He also serves as an adjunct professor at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.[11] David retired on August 31, 2022.[12]

Notable opinion

David wrote the majority opinion in Barnes vs. Indiana.[relevant?]

References

  1. ^ "Indiana Judiciary: Current Justices". November 17, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  2. ^ Dwight Thurner (2010-10-02). "New Ind. Supreme Court justice swearing-in Oct. 18". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on October 2, 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-02. A decorated Army officer who once served as chief defense counsel for Guantanamo Bay detainees will be sworn in as a justice of the Indiana Supreme Court on Oct. 18 at the Statehouse in Indianapolis.
  3. ^ "Daniels: Steven David to interpret rather than invent our laws". The Journal Gazette. 2010-09-17. Retrieved 2010-10-02. Governor Mitch Daniels today announced he has selected Boone County Circuit Court Judge Steven H. David as the next member of the Indiana Supreme Court. David will replace Justice Theodore R. Boehm, who will retire from the court on September 30.
  4. ^ "History unfolds" (PDF). The Wire (Guantanamo). 2008-06-06. p. 12. Retrieved 2008-06-10.[dead link]
  5. ^ a b "Justice Steven H. David". Justice Biographies. Indiana Judicial Branch. Archived from the original on April 20, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  6. ^ William Glaberson (February 13, 2008). "Doubts as Six Face Death over September 11". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  7. ^ William Glaberson (April 10, 2008). "New Roadblocks Delay Tribunals at Guantánamo". International New York Times. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  8. ^ "Capital Cases pn Kangaroo Courts". The Boston Globe. February 25, 2008. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  9. ^ "Guantanamo: Justice Mocked". The Times. London. August 9, 2008. Archived from the original on March 31, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  10. ^ Hoskins, Michael (18 October 2010). "New justice joins the Indiana Supreme Court". The Indiana Lawyer. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  11. ^ "Justice Steven David, '82, to Deliver IU McKinney Commencement Address". IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Indiana University - Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  12. ^ Box, Terri (August 18, 2022). "Retirement celebration to honor Justice Steven David". Retrieved September 11, 2022.
Legal offices Preceded byTheodore R. Boehm Associate Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court 2010–2022 Succeeded byDerek R. Molter
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