A state commission helping select the Indiana Supreme Court's newest justice will vote next week on which three finalists to recommend to Gov. Eric Holcomb.
The Judicial Nominating Commission has already narrowed the 20 candidates who applied to replace retiring Justice Robert Ruckerto 11 people.
The panel will re-interview those 11 on April 18-19 and then vote publicly April 19 on which three names to send to Holcomb. He'll have 60 days to make his pick.
Rucker is retiring on May 12 after 26 years on the bench. The 70-year-old is the court's only black justice and its sole remaining Democratic appointee.
His successor's selection will complete the remaking of Indiana's high court, with all five justices appointed since 2010 by Republican governors.