Gov. Mitch Daniels has appointed Boone Circuit Court Judge Steven David to the Indiana Supreme Court.

Daniels announced his selection during a Friday morning news conference at his office. It was his first appointment to the state's highest court.

David, 53 and a judge since 1994, was one of three finalists selected by the state's Judicial Nominating Commission. He will become the first new member on the five-member court since 1999.

(In the video below, David answers questions during his interview for the Supreme Court seat about how political ramifications should affect judicial decisions.)



The other finalists were Marion Superior Court Judge Robyn Moberly—who would have been Indiana's second female Supreme Court justice—and Indianapolis appellate lawyer and former Supreme Court administrator Karl Mulvaney. (Read The Indiana Lawyer's rundown on the finalists here.)

Indiana and Idaho are the only two states without a woman on their Supreme Courts.

David will replace Justice Theodore Boehm, who is retiring Sept. 30 after 14 years on the court.