Richard Martin Givan[4] (June 7, 1921 – July 22, 2009) served as the 96th Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court from January 6, 1969, until his retirement December 31, 1994.
He was appointed deputy public defender of Indiana after graduation from law school and served in that post until 1954.
In 1984, a group known as "Remember Baby Doe - Retire Judge Givan Committee" sought to ouster Givan from his position as Chief Justice after the Indiana Supreme Court refused to hear a case regarding the death of an infant with Down syndrome.
The group placed several advertisements in Indiana newspapers and asked voters to oppose Givan in the November 6 election.
On July 23, 2009, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels ordered all flags at the Statehouse and across the state be flown at half-mast as a tribute to Chief Justice Givan.