Your ISBA sections and committees are at the forefront of the profession, providing CLE and resources, planning events, and moving Indiana’s legal community forward. Find out what they’ve been up to this month. If you have any section and/or committee updates you would like to share, email Abigail Hopf at ahopf@inbar.org.

ISBA Members in the Wild

ISBA Leaders Gather at Great Rivers Conference

ISBA President Michael Jasaitis and Executive Director Joe Skeel attended the 2024 Great Rivers Bar Conference in San Antonio in October. This annual gathering brings together leaders from nine Midwest state bar associations to discuss trends, provide insights, and solve common challenges. Key conversations this year focused on the attorney shortage, member engagement, and more.

ISBA Members Admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court

In November, ten ISBA members traveled to Washington, D.C., to be sworn into the U.S. Supreme Court. They met with Chief Justice Roberts, toured the nation’s capital, and were admitted before all Supreme Court justices. Interested in attending in the future? Fill out this interest form »

Congratulations to this year’s inductees:

• Hon. Kelly Benjamin, Bartholomew County Circuit Court
• Sarah Brinkley, Brinkley Law
• Hon. Stephanie Campbell, Fountain Circuit Court
• Christine Douglas, Douglas Family Law LLC
• Jonathan Hughes, Bose McKinney & Evans LLP
• David Jones, Law Office of David P. Jones
• James Moloy, Bose McKinney & Evans LLP
• Laura Scott, Farmer Scott Ozete Robinson & Schmitt LLP
• Hon. AmyMarie Travis, Jackson Superior Court 1
  

On November 14, Senior Judge Margret Robb of the Indiana Court of Appeals was inducted into the Council of Chief Judges of the State Courts of Appeal (CCJSCA) Hall of Fame. This honor recognizes members who provide extraordinary service and advance CCJSCA’s mission. Judge Robb was nominated for her efforts to “give back” to each community the conference visited—including creating a book drive that has since become a hallmark of the organization’s outreach—her numerous awards and accolades, and her leadership as the council’s 2019 president.

Welcome New Leadership

Many ISBA sections and committees introduced their 2024-25 officers. Please welcome the new chairs and chair-elects of the following groups:

• Affiliate Membership Committee—Chair: Lauren K. Jones
• Alternative Dispute Resolution Section—Chair: Rebecca L. Billick; Vice Chair: Amy L. Stewart
• Agricultural Law Section—Chair: John Shoup; Chair-Elect: Jeff Cummins
• Appellate Practice Section—Chair: Hon. Leanna K. Weissmann; Chair-Elect: Jane Dall Wilson
• Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights Section—Chair: Shawn D. Cox; Chair-Elect: Katherine E. Iskin
• Business Law Section—Chair: Paraskevi “Patty” Xidias; Chair Elect: Randall Cloe
• Criminal Justice Section—Chair: Amy Karozos; Vice Chair: Mike Cunningham
• Construction & Surety Law Section—Chair: Brain M. Falcon; Chair-Elect: Patrick A. Drewry
• Diversity Committee—Co-Chairs: Alex Van Gorp and Shelley Gupta
• Elder Law Section—Chair: Cara M. Chittenden; Chair-Elect: Tamara R. Carpenter
• Employment, Labor & Benefits Law Section—Chair: Elizabeth M. Roberson; Chair-Elect: Courtney E. Endwright
• Intellectual Property Section—Chair: Charles M. Fox; Chair-Elect: Dominic M. Yobbi
• Leadership Development Academy Committee—Co-Chairs: April Keaton and Katherine Tapp
• Litigation Section—Chair: Aaron C. Medley; Chair-Elect: Patrick I. Jones
• Probate, Trust & Real Property Section—Chair: Elizabeth A. Homes; Chair-Elect: Paige Freitag
• Senior Lawyers Section—Chair: Robert A. Garelick; Chair-Elect: Mary J. Hoeller
• Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Committee—Co-Chairs: Ellen Pactor and Wenxi Lu
• Tax Section—Chair: Hon. Justin McAdam; Chair-Elect: Dan Shackle
• Utility Law Section—Chair: Tiffany Murray; Chair-Elect: Lauren Aguilar
• Young Lawyers Section—Chair: Matthew R. Land; Chair-Elect: Elizabeth A. Klesmith

Affiliate Membership Committee Names 2024 Cathy Canny Award Winner

The Affiliate Membership Committee honored Tracey Clark, a paralegal and accounting administrator at Church Church Hittle & Antrim, with the 2024 Cathy Canny Award of Excellence.

The Cathy Canny Award is given to an affiliate member who exemplifies courageous, visionary leadership in raising the bar of professionalism for paralegals throughout Indiana. In her 15+ years with CCHA Law, Tracy has “embodie[d] the qualities of dedication, the essence of professional excellence, and leadership within the legal community.” Her honesty and transparency, her volunteer work, and her unwavering commitment to ethical standards have made her a highly regarded peer. Please join us in congratulating Tracey!

Bankruptcy Section Provides Feedback on Bankruptcy Appellate Panel

The Seventh Circuit is contemplating the creation of a Bankruptcy Appellate Panel. In forming their decision, they asked Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights Section members to share their thoughts through a survey.

Land Use and Zoning Reviews Potential Legislation

The Land Use and Zoning Section reviewed mock legislation for Indiana’s 2025 legislative session, offering feedback on proposed amendments to Indiana Code concerning land use proceedings.

Leadership Development Academy Committee Announces 13th Class

The Leadership Development Academy (LDA) Committee selected 24 emerging leaders to join the LDA Class of 2025. Learn more »

Meet the Class of 2025:

• Lauren Berger, Biesecker Dutkaynch & Macer LLC, Jasper
• Lacey Berkshire, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, Indianapolis
• Nick Brady, Plews Shadley Racher & Braun, Indianapolis
• Samantha Chapman, The Humane Society of the United States, Fishers
• Todd Coffeen, Quarles & Brady, LLP, Noblesville
• Chelsea Crawford, Chelsea R. Crawford Attorney at Law, Kirklin
• Brandon Curl, Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn, Evansville
• Shelley Gupta, Health and Hospital Corporation, Indianapolis
• Ashley Hart, Indiana Judges & Lawyers Assistance Program, Franklin
• Jonathan Harwell, Harwell Gray Legal Counsel, LLC, Indianapolis
• Mark Holwager, Holwager & Holwager Attorneys at Law, P.C., Beech Grove
• Matthew Kroes, Marc Lopez Law, Indianapolis
• Ashley Moise, Indiana Office of Court Services, Indianapolis
• Trevor Oakerson, Wayne County Public Defender’s Office, Winchester
• Amy Osborne, Office of the Indiana Attorney General, Greenfield
• Mag. Matthew Raper, St. Joseph Superior Court, South Bend
• Tim Stucky, Kightlinger & Gray, LLP, Sellersburg
• Cortney Sweat, May Oberfell Lorber, LLP, Mishawaka
• Elizabeth Terrell, Terrell Group LLC, Martinsville
• Daniel Timm, CCSK Law/LaPorte County Government, Valparaiso
• Megan Torres, Beckman Lawson, LLP, Fort Wayne
• Elizabeth Walker, Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, Indianapolis
• Christine Walsh, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, Indianapolis
• Levy Wash, Fisher Maas Howard Lloyd & Wheeler P.C., Fishers

Women in the Law Committee Announces 23rd Annual Retreat

Discover the intersection between law and medicine at the 23rd Women’s Bench Bar Retreat. This annual event brings together attorneys and judges from across the state for a mix of CLEs, social events, and opportunities to connect and mentor the next generation of legal professionals. This year’s retreat will be held at Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, Indiana. Learn more and register »

Connection Opportunities

• The Affiliate Membership Committee worked with Churchill Reporting to throw a social for paralegals and legal assistants. Members met at Penn & Beech to pour their own candles, then headed over to The Garage for dinner.
• The Construction & Surety Law Section held their annual meeting, learned about contractor and design errors under a builder’s risk policy, and celebrated the season.
• The Intellectual Property and Business Law Sections teamed up for a happy hour at The Tap Mass Ave, providing the opportunity for practitioners to get to know each other.
• For the first time since before the pandemic, the Probate, Trust & Real Property Section held their Probate Review Committee meeting in person. After the CLE, they met up with colleagues at a sold-out St. Elmo’s reception.
• The Tax Section held their annual State Tax Reception and meeting at Ice Miller.
• The Utility Law Section met for their annual Fall Seminar, discussing cyberthreats and privacy challenges, electrification initiatives in the state, and touring the DC Nanogrid and ReNEWW Houses in West Lafayette.
• Nearly 60 judges, young lawyers, and law students dined together at the Young Lawyers Section’s Dinner with the Judiciary event.

Upcoming CLE and Socials

• Join the Pro Bono Committee on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as they attempt to clear out waiting questions on Indiana Legal Answers. The committee has put together a 5.0 hr. CLE/1.0 hr. Ethics bundle to help you catch up on the most commonly asked pro bono questions. Learn more »
• The Utility Law Section is celebrating section members and employees of the IURC and OUCC at their annual holiday party in Indianapolis. Learn more »
• Learn about the connection between domestic violence and animal cruelty in the Animal Law Section’s CLE on December 12. Learn more » 

On-Demand CLE Added to the ISBA Library 

The following CLE programs were added to ISBA’s on-demand library. Missed them in action? Check them out now—virtually and at your convenience!

• Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights Section | Bankruptcy Trustee Demand Letters: What They Mean and How to Respond. View CLE »
• Criminal Justice Section | Sentencing Refresher: Key Considerations Before, During, and After a Trial. View CLE »
• Where GenAI and Ethics Collide! View CLE »
• Review of Ordinance Violation Cases. View CLE »
• Open Conversations: Local Bar Presidents. View CLE »
• Serving Immigrant Communities in Indiana: Call to Action for Legal Service Providers. View CLE »