INDIANAPOLIS — A state judicial panel plans to narrow the search for the next Indiana Supreme Court justice to three people.

Four judges and three lawyers are among the seven semifinalists that the Judicial Nominating Commission was set to interview today.

Following the interviews, the panel planned to meet privately and then hold a public vote to determine the three finalists to fill the vacancy being created by the pending retirement of Chief Justice Randall Shepard.

Gov. Mitch Daniels will select a new justice from among the three finalists.

The seven semifinalists include three women: Marion Superior Court Judge Robyn Moberly, Floyd Superior Court Judge Maria Granger, and Indianapolis attorney Jane Siegel. Each of the current Supreme Court justices are men.

Shepard has called for more diversity on the state's highest court.