J. Todd Spurgeon, New Albany, Immediate Past President, is a partner at Kightlinger & Gray in the firm’s New Albany office. He is a member of the Floyd County, Indiana State (district representative, Board of Governors, 2012-14; chair, Young Lawyers Section, 2008-09; member of various other committees) and American (member, House of Delegates, 2005-08, 2015-2019; member, Litigation Section) bar associations. He is also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the Sherman Minton American Inn of Court. In his community, Todd is active with the Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana (board of directors) and the New Albany Lions Club. He received his A.B. from Wabash College in 1996 and his J.D. from the I.U. Maurer School of Law in 1999. He was born in Brownstown, Ind.
Professional enjoyment: There are so many things – the clients and their stories and situations, the attorneys and their personalities and skills, the interaction with juries. Although many of my cases are similar in nature, no two cases are the same, and each presents its own unique set of circumstances to work through.
Your inspiration: After a failed college physics test or two, engineering was out the window. My dad was a probation officer for 30 years, so I spent a lot of time at the courthouse with him and had grown up admiring lawyers and judges I knew in my family along with those I had seen in the community. I felt the legal field gave me the best chance to be in a profession I would enjoy as well as to be able to serve the community as a whole.
Why bar association involvement: I was “drafted” into bar involvement by a mentor of mine, Sam Day. I’m thankful for that each day. The networking, both socially and professionally, is priceless. The knowledge base of members is a wonderful source of practice advice and guidance. Bar involvement also gives me the unique opportunity to see the innumerable great works being done by our members and to meet new and interesting people from all over the state in practice areas I would not otherwise have a chance with which to interact. Through my involvement in the ISBA, I have also seen firsthand how the Association works on behalf of its members to make our jobs easier and the profession better, and how the Association strives to serve and educate the public about the legal profession and legal issues facing society.
If not a lawyer: No doubt, a funeral director – my family has been in the business for more than 100 years.
Fav hobbies: spending time on the lake, running, following my children’s endeavors.
Fav book or author and current reading: Admittedly, I don’t read much apart from work, but I really enjoyed Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose.
Fav vacation spot: Disney World or the Florida Keys.
Fav food or restaurant: Big Boy.
Top of my bucket list: I don’t really have a bucket list, but I’ve always wanted to take a few weeks for an RV trip out West through the national parks.