Press Release: Court of Appeals Judge Garrard Dies at 91

For Immediate Release | June 13, 2023

Court of Appeals of Indiana Judge William I. Garrard Dies at 91

INDIANAPOLIS –  Court of Appeals of Indiana Judge William I. Garrard died Friday, June 2, 2023 at the age of 91.

Judge Garrard was appointed to the Court of Appeals of Indiana in 1974 by Governor Otis Bowen and was retained by election in 1986 and 1996. He served twenty-six years (26) on the bench until his retirement in 2000, at which time he became a Senior Judge and served an additional sixteen (16) years at the Court of Appeals, until 2016.

Judge Garrard was born in Indianapolis on October 16, 1932 and raised in Frankfort, Indiana, graduating from Frankfort High School in 1950. He was an Eagle Scout and graduate of Wabash College who served as an enlisted soldier in the U.S. Army before enrolling at the Indiana University School of Law in Bloomington, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif and graduated in 1959 with distinction.

Judge Garrard began his legal career with the Warsaw, Indiana, firm Graham, Rasor, Eschbach & Harris and practiced law with the firm for the next 15 years, also serving as Deputy Prosecutor from 1959 to 1969. During his private practice career, he had notable wins that resulted in changes to Indiana law.

Judge Garrard’s Court of Appeals opinions were known for their directness, lucidity, and brevity. Referred to as “Garrard Opinions,” he authored decisions in cases such as Wilson v. State and Casselman v. State, the latter establishing Indiana’s “Castle Doctrine,” providing a measure of legal protection for homeowners who resist unlawful entry into their homes by law enforcement officers.

Judge Garrard served as an adjunct professor at the IU School of Law in Bloomington for ten years and was active in the leadership of many bar associations and civic organizations. He is a recipient of Wabash College’s David Peck Medal, three Sagamore of the Wabash awards (given by Governors Otis Bowen, Evan Bayh, and Frank O'Bannon,) and the Indiana State Bar Association’s Presidential Citation. He was inducted into the Indiana University School of Law Academy of Law Alumni Fellows in 2000.

Judge Garrard is survived by his wife, Linda L. Chezem and their children, Michael Garrard, Kathleen West, Kelly Smith, and a daughter of the heart, Sally Ann Wood, and his nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

His Court of Appeals biography is available on the Court’s website.

Funeral services were held on Monday, June 12, 2023 at the Van Cleve Community Church in Brazil, IN. Remembrances and condolences may be shared at www.FergusonLee.com.