« Ind. Decisions - Supreme Court decides one today | Main | Ind. Courts - More on "Clash of schools, blogs raises free-speech issues" »

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Ind. Courts - Retired St. Joseph County Superior Court William Means, 80, dies

Here is the story, written by Mary Kate Malone, in the South Bend Tribune, from Oct. 24th. Some quotes:

William Means, a respected political figure in Michiana who served 22 years as St. Joseph Superior Court judge, died Wednesday in a suburban Chicago nursing home. He was 80.

Known for his composure both inside and outside the courtroom, Means was well-liked by attorneys and well-respected by colleagues.

"He had an excellent demeanor for a judge," said St. Joseph Superior Court Judge Michael Scopelitis. "No matter what the situation was, he was able to remain calm and respectful toward everyone in the courtroom." * * *

Means worked as a private attorney in Mishawaka for 30 years before being appointed Superior Court judge in 1986.

"He served the people of this county with real devotion and honor," said Superior Court Judge Jerome Frese. "He was scrupulously fair... so dignified."

Means presided over several high-profile cases, most notably the conviction of Philip Stroud for the murder of three construction workers in Lakeville in 2000.

Means carefully studied every case, pacing in front of his office window that overlooked Main Street, colleagues said.

"He had piles of cases and files and paper in his office, but his mind was clean, sharp and pure," Frese said. "He was very politically astute. He was a statesman, not a politician. He was a jurist, not merely a judge."

Here is the obituary.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on October 27, 2009 04:40 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts