Your ISBA sections and committees are 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

Hon. Steven David Receives ABA’s Robert B. Yegge Award

Justice Steven David (Ret.) received the American Bar Association’s Robert B. Yegge Award for Outstanding Contribution in the Field of Judicial Administration during the ABA’s Annual Meeting in Toronto. The award, named after Dean Emeritus Robert Yegge, honors lifetime achievement in legal, scholarly, or civic fields and is presented to those who emulate Dean Yegge’s legacy of mentorship and service. Learn more about the award »

Governor Braun Appoints ISBA Members to Boards/Commissions

Governor Mike Braun appointed several ISBA members to serve on state boards and commissions this fall:

• Bob Reiling, Probate Code Study Committee
• James Carlberg, Probate Code Study Committee
• Jeff Kolb, Probate Code Study Committee
• Thomas Hardin, Probate Code Study Committee
• Cari Lynn Sheehan, Artificial Intelligence Task Force
• Patricia McCrory, Indiana Ireland Trade Commission
• Stephen Koers, Workers’ Compensation Board

Highlights from the 2025 Annual Meeting

ISBA’s Annual Meeting was held in Indianapolis on October 9 and 10. Here’s what went down:

• ISBA House of Delegates: The House of Delegates (ISBA’s supreme legislative body) heard reports from outgoing ISBA President Mike Jasaitis, Indiana’s ABA State Captain Steve Hoar, Chief Justice Loretta Rush, and the Indiana Bar Foundation. Delegates also received year-end summaries from various ISBA sections and committees. Learn what these groups accomplished this year »
• Leadership Elections: Steve Hoar was inducted as the 2025-26 House of Delegates chair, while Josh Tatum was elected as chair-elect. Eight candidates were also approved for open 2025-26 board positions: Hon. Steven David, Geoffrey Giorgi, Kevin Fitzharris, Bob Reiling, Mark Guenin, Tarah Baldwin, April Keaton, and Patty Xidias.
• Presidential Citations: Outgoing President Mike Jasaitis recognized several members for their outstanding service to the ISBA this year, including Judge Julie Cantrell, Judge Nancy Vaidik, Justin Forkner, Judge Tom Felts, John Maley, Catheryne Pully, Joe Skeel, Christine Cordial, and Doug Church.
• New Executive Committee: John Maley officially assumed the role of ISBA president for 2025-26. He appointed Dawn Rosemond, Counsel to the President; Katrina Ornelas, Treasurer; and Hon. Tim Baker, Secretary, as his officers.

Affiliate Committee Presents Cathy Canny Award to Tammy Munchel

The Affiliate Membership Committee awarded Tammy Munchel the 2025 Cathy Canny Award of Excellence. Tammy has served as a paralegal at McNeely Law in Shelbyville for over 25 years and was presented the award during the firm’s annual end-of-summer luncheon.

“Tammy’s aptitude, balance, and overall disposition make her an irreplaceable asset,” wrote one nominator. “In every respect, Tammy embodies the qualities recognized by the Cathy Canny Award: commitment to excellence, continuous learning, professional integrity, and the indispensable role of the paralegal in the legal field. Her impact is profound and lasting.”

Diversity Committee Sponsors MCBA Centennial Gala

The Diversity Committee is sponsoring the Marion County Bar Association’s (MCBA) Centennial Celebration Gala on October 25 in Indianapolis. Founded in 1925, the MCBA has supported Black lawyers and judges in Indianapolis’s legal community as both a metropolitan bar association and a proud chapter of the National Bar Association. Please join us in congratulating them on 100 years. Learn more about the MCBA »

Employment Law Section Volunteers at Food Bank

Members of the Employment, Labor & Benefits Law Section gathered for a service project at the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana in Crown Point. The event served as a joint section meeting, social, and volunteer opportunity.

The section also released the latest edition of its newsletter, The Workplace Lawyer. Articles covered FMLA, legislative updates, common mistakes employers make when terminating employees, and more.

Family Law Section Presents Hon. Andrea Trevino with Raduenz Award

The Family & Juvenile Law Section presented Hon. Andrea Trevino with the 2025 Nanette K. Raduenz Award at the Indiana Judicial Conference in September. The award honors judicial officers who go above and beyond in family or juvenile law.

Judge Trevino began her career as a family law attorney and went on to become the youngest woman to serve as chief judge of the Allen County Superior Court before her retirement this fall. “Trevino is fair-minded, organized, an academic and extremely diligent in her judicial duties,” wrote a nominator. “She is a leader in our community who will be sorely missed.” 

LDA Applications Open for Class of 2026

The Leadership Development Academy (LDA) is now accepting applications for the Class of 2026. Applications are due on Monday, November 3. Apply now »

LDA is a five-month leadership program bringing together 25 legal professionals from across the state. Participants form strong connections through shared experiences—overnight retreats, honest conversations, and behind-the-scenes access to leaders in law, government, and business. Graduates have gone on to serve as judges, firm managing partners, corporate leaders, and board members. Learn more »

LPM Committee Launches New Resource Page

The Law Practice Management (LPM) Committee (a subcommittee of the General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Section) has unveiled a new resource hub for solo and small firm attorneys. The LPM toolkit includes practice management resources, checklists, sample agreements and forms, recommended vendors, and more. The Starting Your Practice resource page is live now, and the committee plans to add additional webpages focused on building, managing, protecting, and retiring your practice in the future. Learn more »

Pro Bono Committee Seeks Volunteers for 2026 Mediation Clinic

The Pro Bono Committee is seeking volunteers for a half-day Mediation Clinic on Saturday, February 21, 2026, in Indianapolis. In partnership with the Marion County courts, volunteer mediators will help parties resolve ongoing family law disputes on the spot.

The committee is seeking attorneys, paralegals, and registered domestic relations mediators to volunteer. Attorneys and paralegals will help draft the settlement, while mediators work with the parties to reach an agreement. Templates for all documents (including settlement agreements) will be provided. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Kim Latimore-Martin at klatimore-martin@inbar.org or 317-639-5465, ext. 936. Please include your name, attorney/mediator number, contact information, and address.

Save the Date: Women’s Bench Bar Retreat

The Women in the Law Committee will host the 24th Women’s Bench Bar Retreat in Savannah, Georgia, March 1-4, 2026. The retreat brings together attorneys and judges for CLE, community-building, and celebration of what it means to be a practicing legal professional.

CLE topics will include gender and generational impacts on communication styles, reentry programs, mock trials, a ghost tour, and more. Registration opens soon. Learn more »

Connection Opportunities

• The Elder Law Section invited members for dinner and drinks in October.
• The Agricultural Law Section toured Dull’s Tree Farm and learned about environmental regulation, the One Big Beautiful Bill’s impact on agriculture, and more.
• The Young Lawyers Section hosted a golf outing at Back 9 Golf for members and law students.
• Attorneys and judicial officers from across the state gathered in Lafayette for the annual Women in the Law Committee’s Sisters in the Law Social.
• The Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights Section joined Judge Andrea McCord of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana for breakfast and a CLE on merchant cash advances.

Upcoming CLEs and Events

• The Alternative Dispute Resolution Section will host an interactive CLE on conflict resolution on October 21. Learn more »
• Join the Utility Law Section in French Lick for their annual Fall Seminar on October 30-31. Learn more »
• Meet members of Indiana’s judiciary—from all levels—at the Young Lawyers Section’s Dinner with the Judiciary on November 4. Learn more »
• Dive into the current standards and legal frameworks of Name, Image, and Likeness law at the Intellectual Property, Business Law, and Employment, Labor & Benefits Law Sections’ joint CLE. Learn more »
• Join law students, members, and allies of Indiana’s LGBTQ+ legal community at the Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Committee’s social on November 7. Learn more »
• The Litigation Section is bringing together a panel of seasoned judges for an inside look at courtroom dynamics. Learn more »
• Learn about the intersection of construction and bankruptcy law at the Construction Law and Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights Sections’ joint CLE on November 13. Learn more »
• The Criminal Justice Section has invited Hon. Candace Jackson-Akiwumi of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit to speak to members on November 19. Learn more »
• The Probate, Trust & Real Property Section is hosting their Probate Review Committee and annual business meeting, along with a reception at Capital Grille, on November 21. Learn more »
• Save the date for the Utility Law Section’s Holiday Party on December 4 in Indianapolis. 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!

• Tax and Probate, Trust & Real Property Sections | Avoiding Tax Traps in Estate and Gift Planning: Practical Steps to Minimize Clients’ Tax Consequences. View CLE »
• Agricultural Law Section | Gene Editing in Agriculture - A Lawyer's Perspective. View CLE »
• The Science of Justifying Emotional Distress Compensation. View CLE »
• Open Conversations: Rule of Law with Judge Sarah Evans Barker. View CLE »
• Tips for Successful Mediation. View CLE »
• Essential Soft Skills for Attorneys. View CLE »
• Developing Leadership Skills: Delegation. View CLE »