---
title: "Randall T. Shepard | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/randall-t-shepard-in"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Randall T. Shepard

Indiana Court of Appeals · Senior Judge

## Profile

- Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
- State: Indiana
- Role: Senior Judge
- Service status: senior

## Summary

Randall T. Shepard — Indiana Court of Appeals

## Sources

- [Court of Appeals Judges](https://www.in.gov/courts/appeals/judges/)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- He held the role of chief justice until his retirement in March 2012, making him the longest-serving chief justice in Indiana and one of the senior chief justices nationally
- In 1985, at age 38, he was appointed to the Indiana Supreme Court by Governor Robert D. Orr, becoming chief justice in March 1987, the youngest in the state’s history
- Began his judicial career as a judge of the Vanderburgh County Superior Court from 1980 to 1985

### Education

- Law degree from Yale Law School in 1972, later obtaining a Master of Laws in judicial process from the University of Virginia in 1995

### Additional information

- Shepard held numerous leadership roles, including chair of the ABA Appellate Judges Conference, chair of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, and President of the National Conference of Chief Justices in 2005 and 2006.
- He graduated cum laude from Princeton University in 1969
- Randall Terry Shepard, born December 24, 1946, in Lafayette, Indiana, is a seventh-generation Hoosier who spent much of his youth in Evansville.
- His career reflects a combination of judicial excellence, public service, and dedication to preserving Indiana’s legal and cultural heritage
- He was appointed by Chief Justice John Roberts to the U.S. Judicial Conference Advisory Committee on Civil Rules, which advises on changes to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
- He also co-chaired the Indiana Commission on Local Government Reform and held the role of a trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Indiana Landmarks
- Shepard continues to teach law courses and remains active in civic and historic preservation organizations, receiving multiple awards including the Indiana Bar Foundation’s Legend Award and Indiana Lawyer’s Lifetime Achievement Award



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Indiana Code of Judicial Conduct Rule 2.17: Prohibiting Broadcasting of Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-5874afbd225ebe853accf23f) — Only the source-described proceeding, permission process and exceptions. Remote-hearing instructions apply only when remote participation has been authorized. Shared baseline only, not a judge-specific preference or complete local rules inventory. Apply source exceptions, case-type limits, later amendments and case orders. [Official source](https://rules.incourts.gov/Content/judicial-conduct/rule2-17/current.htm). Collected 2026-07-26.