The Indiana Supreme Court has named attorney Geoffrey B. Yelton to serve as temporary judge of Madison Superior Court 4, Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard announced today.  Yelton replaces the Honorable David W. Hopper, who passed away February 25th.  

According to Indiana Supreme Court trial rules, a judicial vacancy is filled by the Court until the Governor names a successor or until further order of the Court.  Chief Justice Shepard was saddened to hear the news of Judge Hopper’s passing and sends condolences on behalf of the Court to Judge Hopper’s family and his Madison County court family.  On February 26th, Chief Shepard opened Court with the following statement, “The Court meets this morning at a moment of sadness for the Indiana Judiciary due to the passing of Judge David Hopper, and we go about our assignment encouraged by the example of his contribution to Justice.”

Judge Hopper served as judge of Madison County Court 1 from 1981-1990.  He also previously served as a commissioner and juvenile referee in Hamilton County from 1991-1996. In 1997, Judge Hopper was again elected Judge of Madison County Court 1 and served in the capacity until December 31, 2008. In January 2009, Judge Hopper began his service as Judge of the Madison Superior Court 4, which was created by the legislature upon the abolition of the County Court.  He is also a 1986 Indiana Judicial College graduate. The program is an advanced educational opportunity for judges in the state.