Justice Robert Rucker to speak at Purdue’s Martin Luther King Jr. celebration

Justice Robert Rucker, the 105th appointee to the Indiana Supreme Court and recently retired judge on the Indiana Court of Appeals, will keynote the Purdue University celebration of the life and legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 16. Last year’s theme, “The Fierce Urgency of Now,” will carry into the 2018 celebration.

“We are proud to be able to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King at Purdue University with a variety of programs and activities,” says Renee Thomas, director of the Purdue Black Cultural Center. “The keynote address by Judge Rucker will be the highlight of the celebration.”

Rucker, the first African American to serve on the Indiana Court of Appeals and only the second African American to serve on the Supreme Court of Indiana, will speak at 6:30 p.m. in Stewart Center’s Loeb Playhouse. His presentation is titled “An Evening with Justice Robert Rucker.” It is free and open to the public.

A native of Gary, Indiana, Rucker is recognized as a pioneer in his dedication to increasing the diversity in the legal profession. He appointed people of color to serve on various Supreme Court boards and commissions, as well as consistently hiring lawyers of color to serve as his law clerks on the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court.

Rucker was appointed to serve as a judge on the Indiana Court of Appeals in 1991. During his time on the Court of Appeals, Rucker served as vice chair of the Indiana Commission for Continuing Legal Education. He holds the accomplishment of being the longest sitting justice, having served 10 years.

“Judge Rucker has dedicated his career to civil rights issues and has been a champion of diversity and inclusion,” Thomas said. “He has a strong commitment to equality for all, and audience members will be inspired by his personal journey.”

Rucker’s talk will be preceded by a 5:46 p.m. candlelight vigil and march from the Black Cultural Center to Loeb Playhouse, hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

In addition, the Purdue Dreamer Award will be presented at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 16 during the King event. The award is presented annually to an individual or organization whose contributions embody King’s vision of service and further the University’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. Additional information about the award, including nomination forms and a list of previous recipients, can be found at http://www.purdue.edu/dro/Dreamer%20Award/index.html. For question, contact Carolyn Johnson, director of the Diversity Resource Office, at dro@purdue.edu or 765-494-7307.

Writer: Olivia Crouse, ocrouse@purdue.edu