One of my grandmother’s favorite movies was the Wizard of Oz. Dorothy and her seemingly mismatched compadres embark on an adventure that starts at the yellow brick road, leading to lessons learned, and eventually, triumph over the Wicked Witch of the West. I’ve recently pondered a very practical question: who built the yellow brick road? The road is just there, a foundation of stone, willing and readily able to accept travelers of every ilk. The foundation of that road marked the path to freedom for the munchkins, yet, perhaps rightfully, Dorothy receives all the glory. I find myself wondering if the munchkins themselves built that foundation many years before Dorothy’s arrival, leading the way to eventually killing the Wicked Witch. What does this have to do with the bar exam? Well, my pretty, quite a lot. 

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A JUDGE?  I have been a judge for nearly 15 years.  Prior to being elected I did not serve in a judicial capacity. I have served in Marion Civil Court 6for nearly 5 years.  Prior to that, I served in Criminal Court 1 for 10 years. 

OTHER PROJECTS, COMMITTEES, OR SERVICE ROLES OFF THE BENCH?  

• Since February I have served as the civil term chair over the 9 civil courts in Marion County.  One focus of effort has been bringing proceedings supplemental back in-person rather than by video. I appreciate the frustration of many in the collection bar, but it was a necessary shift
• I am the Welcome leader for an upcoming retreat at my church
• I serve on the Indiana War Memorial Foundation Board.  The Board is responsible for the Bricks of Honor on Monument Circle and for assisting the director of the war memorials in Indianapolis with funding needs he may have. Only Washington D.C. has more memorials honoring those who have served in our armed forces than Indianapolis.

BEST TIPS FOR LAWYERS?  Litigation is not easy. Hearings and trials can bring a lot of anxiety for many.  Every attorney has their own style and approach.  I respect that and always attempt to reduce tensions.  To that end, candor with one another and with the court are really appreciated.  

WHO IS YOUR MENTOR, AND WHAT INSIGHT HAVE YOU GAINED?  My father, Richard J. Eisgruber who has honored my mother, Anni, for sixty years of marital bliss.  They are quite a pair and have set quite a standard.  My siblings, Mark and Kerri, and I recognize how fortunate we are.

WHAT IS A COMMON MISPERCEPTIONS ABOUT BEING A JUDGE? That we think we’re the smartest one in the room, when we are clearly not.  Counsel are the subject matter experts in any case before us, and I owe it to them to be prepared for hearing so I can best utilize my opportunity to listen, question and gain clarity on their perspective.

IF I WEREN’T A JUDGE:  As attorneys we are all historians grounded in case law, and statutes. So, I would teach history at a place where I could best impact kids.  Unfortunately, much of our past has been swept into the dustbin of history. . . . 

Have you ever considered becoming a judge? Do you know what the process is for the selection of trial court judges in Marion County and appellate court judges in Indiana? As part of the effort to support a greater pipeline of Hispanic citizens into the practice of law and to strengthen the bench IndyBar’s Hispanic Lawyers Division is hosting on October 6, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, Strengthening the Bench: Equity, Inclusivity, and the Path to Judicial Selection. The seminar will share more about equity, inclusion, and how to apply for the Marion County and Indiana appellate court benches.  

Don’t let the excellence of those around you go unrecognized. It only takes a few minutes to nominate a colleague who stands out in the crowd. The Indianapolis legal community is fortunate to be home to many talented, dedicated professionals, and we need your help in identifying the best of the best. 

Nominations are encouraged for the following IndyBar awards via a single online application form that only takes a few minutes to complete.

Member Headlines: September 8, 2023
Congratulations to these IndyBar members on their accomplishments! Have something to share? Email Robert Adams to be featured.

Dan Cyr has joined Paganelli Law Group. Dan represent clients in the areas of commercial and residential real estate, title and closing services, business law & consulting, transactions, employment, and contract matters, as well as litigation and alternative dispute resolution.


Best Lawyers recently released its 2024 Best Lawyers in America list and named Don Densborn the “Lawyer of the Year” in Business Organization law in the Indianapolis region. His practice is focused on transactional work, particularly acquisition, disposition, and combination transactions. 


The Hon. Paul Felix is the newest member to join the Indiana Court of Appeals. The longtime central Indiana resident is a former deputy prosecutor and city judge who has spent the last 14 years on the Hamilton County bench.


The Hon. Jane Magnus-Stinson announced she will assume senior status on July 1, 2024. Magnus-Stinson currently serves on the Defender Services Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States Courts, the Seventh Circuit Criminal Pattern Jury Instructions Committee, the Seventh Circuit Advisory Committee on Rules and the Seventh Circuit Committee on Supervised Release, according to the Southern District.


David McNamar has recently retired from the practice of law. He has been an attorney since 1968. His previous employment has been Lowe Gray Steele & Darko; McNamar Fearnow & McSharar; Steers Sullivan McNamar & Rogers; and most recently McNamar & Associates, PC.


Congratulations to Greg Silver for being named a 2023 Indiana Jewish Legend by the Indiana Jewish Historical Society. This Hall of Fame celebrates Jewish and non-Jewish Hoosiers who have created a significant and lasting impact to their profession, faith-based and/or secular community, and the legacy of the role of the Jewish community in Indiana’s continuing story.  


White and Champagne is celebrating its 15th anniversary. The firm handles personal injury and family law matters for clients in Indianapolis and throughout surrounding communities. 


Nabeela Virjee is now with Plews Shadley Racher & Braun. She represents people who have been hurt via car accidents, slip and falls, under and uninsured motorist claims, sexual assault/negligent hiring, wrongful death and medical malpractice. 

September 15 is a meaningful date for Hispanic Lawyers Division.  First, it marks one year since the IndyBar Association board of directors voted to change Hispanic Lawyers Division from a Committee to a Division, giving Hispanic/Latinx lawyers more visibility and a platform to present programming that highlights various topics concerning the Hispanic/Latinx community.  Second, and importantly, it marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, a time we celebrate the contributions, extensive histories, and ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity of the Hispanic/Latinx community.  In observance of this celebration, we invite to you to join us for two upcoming CLEs hosted by the Division.  

    Remember the days of the IndyBar Foundation’s formal Gala? Everyone dressed to the nines. Actual tables with plenty of seating. Lovely music playing in the background. A time for you to mix and mingle with your favorite colleagues. Well, this year, you can have all of that and more as we bring you out for a night on the town. 

IndyBar has hundreds of member services. One of the most under-utilized is its document library of sample forms.  An IndyBar member service for more than 50 years, the document library features a selection of legal templates. Easily accessible online and free for use by members, there are more than 300 documents to act as a starting point in assisting you in nearly every aspect of practice — best of all, you can download and edit these forms instantly in Word format.

Member Headlines: August 25, 2023
Congratulations to these IndyBar members on their accomplishments! Have something to share? Email Robert Adams to be featured.

Frank Sullivan, Jr., Professor of Practice at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law and Indiana University Bicentennial Professor, was honored by the Uniform Law Commission at its annual meeting in July, for his work in support of enacting a new set of amendments to the Uniform Commercial Code, called the 2022 UCC Amendments. 

Jay Cunningham has joined FORVIS as a managing director with the firm’s forensics and valuation practice. His experience encompasses the entire litigation process including discovery, damage analysis, preparation of expert reports, and preparation for deposition and trial testimony. He has provided financial expert testimony in arbitration, state, and federal court settings.

Bryan D. Stoffel recently joined Kids' Voice of Indiana as a Staff Attorney on the Custody Team. Bryan is very active in the Indianapolis Bar Association and currently serves on the Pro Bono Committee. Bryan's practice primarily focuses on family law, estate planning, adoption, and guardian ad litem services. 

The Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC) has named David Van Gilder as the new Senior Policy and Legal Director. David will represent the HEC’s legislative interests: building a sustainable economy, “greening” Indiana’s transportation, energy, and agriculture, protecting wildlife, forests, and wetlands, and advancing environmental justice. HEC is known as a resource to policymakers on public health, conservation, transit, and more.