[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E153]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

TRIBUTE TO MYRA SELBY

______

HON. ANDREW JACOBS, JR.

of indiana

in the house of representatives

Friday, January 20, 1995
Mr. JACOBS. Mr. Speaker, the important thing about Myra Selby is not
that she is a woman and is not that she is an African-American. The
important thing is that she is one of the most competent citizens ever
placed on the Indiana Supreme Court. And she carries on a tradition of
the Evan Bayh administration which, in a word, is excellence.
[From the Indianapolis News, Jan. 5, 1995]

In Historic Moment, State Court Welcomes New Justice

In a brief but historic ceremony, the five justices of the
Indiana Supreme Court recessed, then returned with a new
member--Myra C. Selby, the first woman and first black
justice to serve on the court.
``I'm a little bit nervous today,'' Selby said Wednesday in
her first minutes on the bench. ``I hope that means I'm
ready.''
The 102 justices who have served on the high court since
Indiana became a state in 1816 have all been white males.
Mindful of her role in Indiana history, Selby said she did
not seek to be distinguished as a jurist by her race or
gender.
``What I did seek was the opportunity to serve the citizens
of the state of Indiana on this esteemed court,'' she said
moments after taking her place on the Supreme Court bench in
the north wing of the Statehouse.
The courtroom was jammed with hundreds of well-wishers,
including members of Selby's family, friends, law and
government colleagues and state lawmakers in the capital for
the first 1995 working day of the General Assembly.
Selby, a former law firm partner and government lawyer,
pledged that her service on the court would be marked by
``diligence, thoughtfulness, fairness and patience . . .''
She replaced Richard M. Givan, who retired after serving
two days short of 26 years, including 13 years as chief
justice.
``It's been a lot of fun,'' said Givan, gesturing to Selby
seated in the audience below the bench before the swearing-in
and adding, ``Myra, I wish you well.''
At 39, Selby is the third youngest justice to serve, after
Justice Roger O. DeBruler, who joined the court in 1968 at
34, and Chief Justice Randall T. Shephard, who was a few
months younger than Selby when he joined the court in 1986.
[[Page E153]] Selby was formally introduced by state Budget
Director Jean S. Blackwell, who attended law school with her
at the University of Michigan in the 1970s. Blackwell spoke
to the fact of Selby's ``firsts'' as a woman and black on the
court. ``Some feel this shouldn't matter, but it really is a
giant step for Indiana,'' she said.
Harry T. Edwards, a federal appeals judge in Washington who
once was Selby's law professor, said the new justice's career
has been characterized by ``intellect, experience and
commitment.''
``She will be a wonderful addition to this distinguished
court,'' he said.
Selby was appointed by Gov. Evan Bayh, who administered the
oath of office with a Bible held by her husband, Bruce Curry.
Her father, attorney Ralph Selby, and mother, Archie, of
Bay City, Mich., and her 9-year-old daughter, Laureen, helped
Selby don the black robes of a justice.
The five-member court then stood in recess. When the
justices returned to the courtroom a few minutes later, Givan
was absent and Selby sat to Shephard's left.
____

[From the Indianapolis News, Dec. 22, 1994]

Selby Wins High Court Seat

Congratulations are in order to Myra C. Selby, the first
woman and first African-American to be appointed to serve on
the Indiana Supreme Court.
Selby, 39, who has served as Gov. Evan Bayh's director of
health care policy since July 1993, was one of three female
finalists for the seat. The other two women were Indiana
Court of Appeals Judge Betty A. Barteau and Charlestown
attorney Anne M. Sedwick.
Selby said she hopes her historic appointment will help all
children ``reach for that highest star'' and dream of lofty
accomplishments.
``I hope to be able to become a symbol for young girls and
boys of all colors, shapes and sizes,'' added Selby, who,
before working for Bayh, served at Ice Miller Donadio & Ryan
for 10 years as a private attorney specializing in health
care cases.
Selby will replace Justice Richard M. Givan, scheduled to
retire at month's end. She will be the youngest justice on
the five-member court.
Some have criticized the governor for choosing for the
third time in as many appointments a close aide as an Indiana
Supreme Court justice. Bayh appointed his personal attorney,
Jon Krahulik, to the high court in 1990. When Krahulik
resigned, Bayh appointed Frank Sullivan Jr., his executive
assistant for fiscal policy, to take his place.
But Bayh said he selected Selby for the $81,000-a-year post
because of her record of excellence in academics, intellect,
practice of law and ethics. Additionally, he long has
expressed his intent to diversify the all-white, male court.
We particularly applaud Selby's sentiment that the Indiana
Supreme Court should hear more oral arguments of cases and
better educate the public about its role in state government.
We welcome the opportunity she will have to promote this
philosophy and wish her a successful term in office.
____

[From the Indianapolis Recorder, Dec. 24, 1994]

Selby Wants To Set Example on High Court

(By Stephen Thomas)

Traditions pertaining to culture and gender have been
erased and diversity has been injected into Indiana's highest
court.
Gov. Evan Bayh appointed attorney Myra C. Selby to fill a
vacancy on the Indiana Supreme Court, Monday. Selby has
become the first woman as well as the first African American
to serve on the high court, as the replacement for retiring
Justice Richard M. Givan.
The 39-year-old Selby said she has understood the ground-
breaking significance of her appointment and that she would
hope to set a shining example for young people who have
dreamed of venturing into high-prestige career paths.
``I hope to become a symbol for young children, girls and
boys (of) all colors, shapes and sizes,'' Selby said, ``so
they, too, can reach for that highest star that they might
dream of.''
Selby has exemplified excellence in the legal profession,
as evidenced by her consideration by the
Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission, which named Selby
one of three finalists for the governor's contemplation.
Selby has started her judiciary career at the top of the
state's ladder, for she has not served as a judge hitherto
her historic appointment.
``Two elements that have impressed me most about Myra would
be her intelligence and her thoughtful, considered
demeanor,'' said Bayh, ``I'd even go so far as to say her
judicial demeanor. I believe she is the kind of person who
will hear all parties, weigh all the evidence and look to the
law and do what is just.''
Selby, the 103rd justice and youngest member of the high
court, has been the governor's health care policy director
for more than a year. Professional skepticism for her lack of
bench experience, her political ties to the governor who
appointed her as well as attention magnified by her race and
gender would not become performance obstacles, Selby said.
``I hope I'll handle it well,'' Selby said. ``I think that
anticipating that it will occur will make it a little easier.
Whenever one is in public life, one realizes that one has a
responsibility to the public for the role that you're in. I'm
fully aware of that and appreciate it.''
Selby would not necessarily be remembered solely for her
appointment's obvious diversification of the high court. Bayh
was impressed with Selby's zeal to be recognized for those
aspects of her life over which she has had control, notably
her accomplishments as a lawyer.
``I want to be chosen for anything I accomplish because of
what I am and because of my accomplishments and my
abilities,'' Bayh said Selby once told him. ``It seems to be
that that is what we honor (in Selby's appointment).
``The fact that she agreed to an enormous cut in pay to
step down as the partner of one of the most prestigious law
firms, not only in our state but in the country, to serve the
people of Indiana is not something that should be held
against her.''
Selby was a partner in the law firm of Ice Miller Donadio
and Ryan, a position she took after serving as an associate
in the Washington-based law firm of Seyfarth Shaw Fairweather
and Geraldson. She has specialized in health care law and
labor law.
Selby in 1993 and '94 has served as an associate professor
of health sciences at the Finch University of Health
Sciences, Chicago Medical School, one of her several academic
positions.
The 1980 University of Michigan Law School graduate has
written articles for numerous legal journals, also. She
earned a bachelor's degree in 1977 from Kalamazoo College.
Selby, perhaps prophetically, was honored as ``A
Breakthrough Woman'' in 1990 by the Coalition of 100 Black
Women.
Selby, her husband of 16 years Bruce Curry and their
daughter Lauren reside in Indianapolis.
____

[From the Indianapolis Star, Jan. 5, 1995]

Newest Justice Takes Her Place, Breaks Barriers

Ever since Indiana became a state in 1816, the Supreme
Court has looked very much the same: all white and all male.
On Wednesday, Myra C. Selby changed all that.
Selby, a former law firm partner and government lawyer,
took the oath of office to become the 103rd justice to sit on
the high court--and its first woman and first black member.
While mindful of her role in Indiana history, Selby said
she did not seek to be distinguished as a jurist by her race
or gender.
``What I did seek was the opportunity to serve the citizens
of the state of Indiana on this esteemed court,'' she said
moments after taking her place on the Supreme Court bench in
the north wing of the Statehouse.
The courtroom was jammed with hundreds of well-wishers,
including members of Selby's family, friends, law and
government colleagues and state lawmakers who had come to the
Capitol for the first 1995 working day of the Indiana General
Assembly.
Selby pledged that her service on the court would be marked
by ``diligence, thoughtfulness, fairness and patience . . .''
She replaced Richard M. Givan, who retired after serving
two days short of 26 years, including 13 years as chief
justice.
``It's been a lot of fun,'' said Givan. Gesturing to Selby,
who was seated in the audience below the bench before she was
sworn in, he added: ``Myra, I wish you well.''
At 39, Selby is the third-youngest justice to serve, after
Justice Roger O. DeBruler, who joined the court in 1968 at
34, and Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard, who was a few
months younger than Selby when he joined the court in 1986.
Selby was formally introduced by State Budget Director Jean
S. Blackwell, who attended law school with Selby at the
University of Michigan in the 1970s. Blackwell acknowledged
Selby's ``firsts'' as a woman and black on the court. ``Some
feel this shouldn't matter, but it really is a giant step for
Indiana,'' she said.
Harry T. Edwards, a federal appeals judge in Washington and
former law professor of Selby's, said Selby's career has been
characterized by ``intellect, experience and commitment.''
Selby was appointed by Gov. Evan Bayh, who administered the
oath of office with a Bible held by her husband, Bruce Curry.
Her father, attorney Ralph Selby; mother, Archie, of Bay
City, Mich.; and her 9-year old daughter, Lauren, helped
Selby don her black robe.
The five-member court then stood in recess. When the
justices returned to the courtroom a few minutes later, Givan
was absent, and Selby sat to the left of Shepard. ``I'm a
little bit nervous today,'' she said. ``I hope that means I'm
ready.''
Vol. 141

WASHINGTON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 1995

No. 12

House of Representatives