Nominate an outstanding family law professional for the 2021 Magistrate Deborah J. Shook Award for Excellence in Family Law

In 2015, the IndyBar Family Law Section awarded the Family Law Section Award for the first time. The purpose of the award is to recognize section members who have made contributions to the legal profession and the community. Specifically, these pillars of our family law legal community have demonstrated a commitment to furthering knowledge of issues affecting families as they relate to laws and policies within the bar and among colleagues as well as have shown a commitment to furthering the interests of families and the Indianapolis community at large.

Recently, we lost one of those pillars, our 2019 award winner – Magistrate Deborah Shook. We can't think of a better way to honor her legacy than renaming this award in her honor. Henceforth, this special recognition will be the Magistrate Deborah J. Shook Award for Excellence in Family Law. Deb, like her fellow award winners, was a bright light in our legal community. She truly cared about the attorneys and litigants she encountered. Many members of the bar recognized her as a supportive and encouraging presence in our often stressful line of work.

We need your help to recognize those who have worked tirelessly to advance the cause of families. Nominations should honor judges/judicial officers, attorneys, both practicing and retired, other professionals, law firms, law students, paralegals and/or organizations that have shown a passion and dedication to promoting family law issues through advocacy and education.

This is not necessarily an annual award; instead, it is presented in circumstances where a section member deserves special recognition for their contributions to the advancement of family law.

Nominations will be accepted now through October 22, 2021. The award will be presented during the IndyBar’s Family Law Section Holiday Party later this year. Nominate at indybar.org/famaward.

Previous award recipients include: Hon. Alicia Gooden (2020), Mag. Deborah J. Shook (2019), Rick Mann (2018), Mag. Victoria Ransberger (2017), Denise Hayden (2016), Carol Terzo (2015).