Justices ask lawyers to apply for court

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The acting chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court is urging lawyers to consider applying for one of the openings on the state's top courts.

Justice Brent Dickson sent an email Wednesday to all Indiana judges and lawyers encouraging them to apply for the upcoming vacancies. Supreme Court Justice Frank Sullivan plans to retire this summer, while Judge Carr Darden is also retiring from the Indiana Court of Appeals.

Chief Justice Randall Shepard retired last month, and Gov. Mitch Daniels appointed his former counsel, Mark Massa, to the court.

The application deadline for the Sullivan vacancy has not been established but Dickson says it likely will be by early summer. Applications for the Court of Appeals vacancy must be submitted by May 9.

Dickson says judicial service is "enormously satisfying."