Judge Melissa S. May of the Court of Appeals of Indiana has received the Indiana State Bar Association’s Women in the Law Recognition Award for her dedication to helping women advance in the legal community.

Judge May received the award Oct. 20 at the ISBA’s annual meeting in French Lick.

Judge May is an Elkhart native who earned her JD from Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis in 1984. She practiced law in Evansville for 14 years before her appointment to the Court of Appeals in 1998. She is currently the Presiding Judge of the Fourth District.

State Court Administration Staffers Selected to National Boards

Two Indiana Supreme Court staff members have been selected to serve on national boards. Judicial Qualifications Commission Attorney, Adrienne Meiring, will serve on the Board for the Association of Judicial Disciplinary Counsel (AJDC). Supreme Court Public Information Officer, Kathryn Dolan, will serve as Treasurer for the Conference of Court Public Information Officers (CCPIO).

Jan Aikman Dickson Joins Warren E. Burger Society

Jan Aikman Dickson, founder of the Judicial Family Institute, was inducted into the Warren E. Burger Society during the National Center for State Courts’ (NCSC) Annual Recognition Luncheon on Friday, November 18.

Membership in the Warren E. Burger Society honors individuals who have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to improving the administration of justice through their contributions of service or support to NCSC. The society is named for the former chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court who helped found the National Center in 1971.

Mrs. Dickson helped found the Judicial Family Institute (JFI) — a national nonpartisan organization dedicated to providing information and education to judicial households and the extended family members of judges — in 1987, shortly after her husband, Justice Brent E. Dickson, was appointed to the Indiana Supreme Court. After encountering and hearing about the conflicts of interest that family members of judges often have in areas such as employment, politics, gifts, investments, and charitable fundraising, she saw the need for those family members to have access to information about judicial codes of conduct as well as managing other aspects of life in the public eye. With assistance from the Indiana Bar Foundation, judges and their spouses, and national organizations such as NCSC, Mrs. Dickson encouraged the development of educational materials and programs for the families of judges.

In recognition of her professional and personal accomplishments, Chief Judge Margret G. Robb of the Court of Appeals of Indiana was awarded the 2011 Antoinette Dakin Leach Award by the Indianapolis Bar Association’s Women and the Law Division on October 5, 2011 at its “Women, Law & Leadership Symposium.” The award was established to honor outstanding women in the legal profession and is named for one of the first female lawyers in Indiana. The Antoinette Dakin Leach Award is presented only when the Division deems a worthy candidate exists.

Fairbanks Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana presented the Richard M. Fairbanks Circle of Hope Award to Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard. The award honors individuals or organizations for outstanding contributions related to addiction research, education or treatment. The Chief Justice was specifically cited for the creation of drug courts and the Indiana Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program (JLAP).

Phyllisia Gant

The Division of State Court Administration is pleased to welcome Phyllisia Gant as the new Coordinator and staff attorney for the Indiana Conference of Legal Education Opportunity (ICLEO), one of the programs administered by the Division.

Immediately prior to joining the Division staff, Phyllisia was an attorney with the Marion County Public Defender’s office where she represented parents in child in need of services (CHINS) and termination of parental rights (TPR) cases. While in law school, Phyllisia worked with the Hudson & Holland Scholars program at IU—Bloomington assisting minority students to reach high scholastic performance goals. Phyllisia graduated from Howard University summa cum laude and from IU Maurer School of Law.

Experienced Attorneys to Lead Board of Law Examiners and State Public Defender’s Office

The Indiana Supreme Court named two accomplished attorneys as agency directors. Bradley W. Skolnik will serve as the State Board of Law Examiners Executive Director and Stephen T. Owens will become the State Public Defender. Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard made the announcement describing both attorneys “as committed and capable public servants.”

Bradley W. Skolnik

Board of Law Examiners Executive Director

Mr. Skolnik was a partner with the Indianapolis law firm of Stewart & Irwin, P.C., where he practices in the areas of securities regulation, financial services and general corporate litigation.

Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Skolnik worked as the Indiana Securities Commissioner in the Indiana Secretary of State’s office. He served as President of the North American Securities Administration Association and in that capacity testified before the U.S. House and Senate. He is a graduate of Michigan State University and the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.

State Public Defender

Stephen T. Owens

“Stephen Owens’ two decade career in the State Public Defender’s Office says it all,” explained Chief Justice Shepard. “His promotion comes after years of advocating for clients without means and helping run an office tasked with a huge responsibility—ensuring basic fairness.” Mr. Owens has been a Deputy State Public Defender since 1986.

As the Assistant Chief Deputy of Personnel in the office, Mr. Owens was the training coordinator for new attorneys. He also worked on preparation of the annual report and assisted with budget matters. He is a graduate of Illinois College and the University of Dayton.

Winning CASA Poster (click to enlarge)

Monroe County CASA Wins National Contest for Recruitment Poster Design

Monroe County CASA has won a national award for designing a volunteer recruitment poster and the chance to win at the People’s Choice judging at the annual CASA conference.

Monroe County CASA won the first-ever National CASA Association Communications Contest from a pool of more than 55 entries. The winning entry was part of the Volunteer category, one of three possible categories entries were judged upon.

CASA would like to thank Ryan Kegley, art director and designer, for his work with Monroe County CASA. His work highlights the mission of CASA by using a single, powerful image.

By participating in the Institute’s work, its distinguished members have the opportunity to influence the development of the law in both existing and emerging areas, to work with other eminent lawyers, judges, and academics, to give back to a profession to which they are deeply dedicated, and to contribute to the public good.

The Executive Committee is: Judge John Hanley, Presiding Judge, Judge David Certo, Judge Becky Pierson-Treacy and Judge Marc Rothenberg.

The new Criminal term chair is Judge Linda Brown. The new Civil term chair is Judge Ted Sosin.

State leaders attended a ceremony on December 17, 2010 honoring the service of Judge Thomas G. Fisher, Indiana’s first Tax Court Judge, who stepped down from the bench on January 16, 2011. The event allowed state officials, the legal community, and the public to show appreciation for Judge Fisher’s state service.

The ceremony included remarks from Governor Mitch Daniels’ counsel David L. Pippen, Indiana Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard, Court of Appeals Chief Judge John Baker, Indiana bar associations, and former law clerks. Judge Fisher was appointed to the Indiana Tax Court by Governor Robert Orr in 1986. During his career on the bench, Judge Fisher decided approximately 800 cases. For each case there has been at least one court session and sometimes more.

He has served on the Judicial Advisory Board, Law and Organizational Economics Institute, University of Kansas, 1997-1999; the Earlham College Board of Trustees, 1995-2004; and the Indiana Supreme Court Commission on Race & Gender Fairness. In April 2010, Judge Fisher was inducted into the Indiana University Maurer School of Law Academy of Alumni Law Fellows.

Judge Paul D. Mathias receives award for commitment to civic education in Indiana

Court of Appeals Judge Paul D. Mathias was recently recognized by the Indiana Bar Foundation for his longstanding commitment to civic education in Indiana. On December 12, 2010, Judge Mathias received the William G. Baker Award, honoring attorneys who show outstanding dedication to citizenship education. Judge Mathias was cited for his work with the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program at both the state level and in the Third Congressional District in northeast Indiana.

Judge Mathias has been involved with We the People since the program’s inception in 1987. Judge Mathias annually recruits many volunteer attorneys and civic leaders as judges for the Third Congressional District We the People competition, now the nation’s second largest.

To learn more about Judge Paul D. Mathias, please visit the Court of Appeals website at courts.in.gov/appeals/bios/mathias.html. For more information about the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, please visit the Indiana Bar Foundation’s website at www.inbf.org/we_the_people.

Lake County courthouse dedicated as the Robert D. Rucker Courthouse in Gary, Indiana

The Lake County Board of Commissioners held a ceremony on December 3, 2010 dedicating the Lake County Courthouse in Gary as the Robert D. Rucker Courthouse in honor of Indiana Supreme Court Justice Robert Rucker who is a Gary native. The Lake County Commissioners voted in favor of naming the building at 15 W. 4th Avenue after Justice Rucker. The building houses a number of Lake County Superior Courts.

Commissioner Roosevelt Allen said they voted for him: “… in recognition of the distinguished, exemplary career of Justice Rucker. Black male role models such as President Obama and Justice Robert Rucker will inspire countless numbers of black males, both nationally and within our community, to aspire to greatness and help our nation to remain the pre-eminent country in the world.”

Justice Rucker was born in Georgia and grew up in Gary, Indiana and is a veteran of the Vietnam War. He is a graduate of Indiana University (B.A. 1974) and Valparaiso University School of Law (J.D. 1976). In 1998, he earned a Master of Laws degree in the judicial process from the University of Virginia Law School.

Robert Rucker is the 105th Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court. He was appointed to the Court by Governor Frank O’Bannon in 1999. Prior to his appointment to the Indiana Supreme Court, Justice Rucker served as a Judge on the Indiana Court of Appeals, having been appointed to that position in 1991 by Governor Evan Bayh.

Judge Gregory J. Donat of the Tippecanoe Superior Court in Lafayette, Indiana was named the 2010 recipient of the American Judicature Society’s Kathleen M. Sampson Access to Justice Award. The award recognizes Judge Donat’s leadership in efforts to improve access to justice for all people. He received the award at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Indiana Judicial Conference in Indianapolis.

Monica Fennell, Executive Director of the Indiana Pro Bono Commission, nominated Donat for the award, citing his work “to ensure that pro bono and pro se efforts are integrated and that all stakeholders in the access to justice community work together to better provide legal help for the poor.” Fennell noted that “he ensures that victims’ rights and self-represented litigant issues are not overlooked whenever he is involved.” Lilia Judson, Executive Director of the Division of State Court Administration, who wrote in support of Judge Donat’s nomination, said “Judge Donat’s steadfast commitment to this cause has been galvanizing factor in the development of services and programs for pro se litigants in Indiana.”

Jane Seigel, Executive Director of the Indiana Judicial Center, remarked that “Judge Donat has been a leader in the State of Indiana as he has creatively tried to develop resources for self-represented litigants–ensuring them their day in court.”

In addition to his work in Indiana, Donat has led and contributed to national projects to enhance access to justice through specialized courts. Anne Seymour, National Crime Victim Advocate, praised Donat’s work to “provide quality services to victims and survivors of crime” through domestic violence courts and drug courts, noting that “whenever we need a judge who truly sees the importance of balancing the rights of those accused and convicted of crimes, with the [rights] of victims of such crimes, we call upon Judge Donat for his wisdom, expertise and fairness.”

The Kathleen M. Sampson Access to Justice Award is named after the long-time AJS Senior Program Associate and pioneer in the field of improving court services for self-represented litigants. The award is given to individuals or organizations that make extraordinary contributions to ensuring access to justice for all.

Founded in 1913, the American Judicature Society’s mission is to secure and promote an independent and qualified judiciary and a fair system of justice. AJS carries out its mission through empirical research, publications, and educational programs focusing on access to justice, criminal justice system reforms, judicial selection, judicial ethics, the jury, judicial independence, and public understanding of the justice system. For more information, visit www.ajs.org.

Two Trial Court Judges Appointed to Indiana Public Defender Commission

Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mary Ellen Diekhoff and Jasper County Superior Court Judge James R. Ahler have been appointed to the Indiana Public Defender Commission by Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard.

“Judge Diekhoff and Judge Ahler will be terrific additions to the Public Defender Commission. The Commission provides crucial financial assistance to Indiana courts and it will benefit from the leadership of these two splendid trial judges,” Chief Justice Shepard said.

Judge Mary Ellen Diekhoff was appointed to fill a position that became available when Rebecca McClure was appointed to the bench in Boone County. Judge Diekhoff was elected to the Monroe Circuit Court in 2005. Previously, she served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney from 1989 to 2004.

Judge James R. Ahler is filling the position vacated by Bettye Lou Jerrel. Mrs. Jerrel resigned this year after serving as a member of the Indiana Public Defender Commission since November 1993. Judge Ahler was appointed to the Jasper Superior Court in November 2007.

“For more than 30 years, Lilly Judson has worked tirelessly to improve the justice system,” said Mary C. McQueen, NCSC president. “Her commitment to the rule of law and the basic principles of justice and her fervent belief in equal access to justice for everyone has served as an example to her peers across the country, as evidenced by the trust placed in her to lead NCSC and COSCA.”

Indiana Tax Court Judge Thomas G. Fisher received the highest honor that the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University-Bloomington can bestow on a graduate. He was inducted into the Academy of Law Fellows in a celebration held in the Indiana Memorial Union on April 16, 2010. The honor is in recognition of his distinguished career and dedication to the legal profession.

Hon. Randall T. Shepard, Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, has been selected as the recipient of the Sixth Annual Dwight D. Opperman Award for Judicial Excellence.  The award was presented on April 14 at a luncheon during the Judicial Conference Spring Judicial College.

Lake County Courts Building named for Justice Robert D. Rucker

The Lake County Superior Court House in Gary will be named the Robert D. Rucker Building in honor of Indiana Supreme Court Justice Robert Rucker who is a Gary native.

Noble County Judge Kramer wins national award for drug court

Noble Superior Judge Michael J. Kramer was named an Advocate of the Year at the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s National Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C.

New attorneys at State Court Administration

[These three new lawyers were hired to replace five lawyers who have left employment with State Court Administration.]

Doyal McLemore comes to us from Fort Wayne where he practiced law, and will be working on our Trial Court Management Team.

Michele Lofthouse joins us after practicing law in Indianapolis and Greenfield and will be dividing her time between Judicial Qualifications and the Public Defender Commission.

Elizabeth Daulton will be working primarily as our Project Manager for the Mortgage Foreclosure Settlement Conference project. She was sworn in last fall and married the next day. She is from the Madison, Ind. area and attended Berea College in Kentucky.