34 hopefuls in state Justice position

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - A record number of people hope to become the next Indiana Supreme Court Justice. 

16 judges, 17 attorneys and a state senator are vying for Justice Theodore Boehm's seat.  That's 34 candidates .  Boehm will retire in September of 2010.

It's a state-wide situation similar to the debate over U.S. Supreme Court Justice appointee Elena Kagan.  But dozens of folks throughout Indiana hope to take advantage of the local opening.

"It's intimidating and inspiring all at the same time," said Allen County attorney Christine Marcuccilli.

"It's an opportunity that's probably only going to come once in my legal career," said Allen County Superior Court Judge Fran Gull.

Both Gull and Marcuccilli have years of experience in law.

Gull has been a trial court judge for 13 years and was a trial court attorney before that.

Marcuccilli has been a lawyer for 15 years.

Both bring different aspects of law to the table for the State Supreme Court Justice position.

"The appellate practice has awarded me the opportunity to bring cases before the Indiana Court of Appeals, the Indiana Supreme Court, and the U.S. Supreme Court," said Marcuccilli.

"I've been through the trenches," said Gull.  "I've been in trial court, I've been a trial attorney, and I come from a different background because all my private practice work was done on behalf of the state of Indiana."

Next up, each of the 34 candidates will be interviewed by a seven-member Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission July 6 and July 7 in Indianapolis. 

The interviews are open to the public.  Click here for a list of first round interview times.

Candidates who make it to the second round will be interviewed July 30th.

The Commission will narrow it down to three final candidates.  Governor Mitch Daniels will make the final decision.

It's a quick process for the highest judicial position in the state.

"It's a very compressed time frame in the next couple of weeks, so it ought to be very exciting," said Gull.