It happens; amidst year-end close of business, holiday festivities, travel, and time with family, you’re just a few credit hours shy of that three-year requirement. IndyBar stands ready to serve your needs with the largest collection of Indiana-specific on-demand seminars, all taught by local attorneys and competitively priced at $55.50 per credit hour for IndyBar members ($110.50 for non-members). And, for those of you who missed our catalog of free one-hour programming, you’re in luck! 45 programs are available at the free for members rate. Our ever-growing catalog features many unique, one-hour programs. From inspiring and informative ethics seminars to classic legal updates, to bundles of seminars specific to practice areas. Keeping your needs in mind, we recently updated to a brand-new platform for our on-demand catalog, SeminarWeb! All of our on-demand ethics programs, educational programs, and bundled content can now be found at www.indybar.org/cle. The perfect way to productively use those hours where the cold has kept you indoors, our vast catalog of on-demand programming is only a click away.

Indiana attorneys are required to obtain 3.0 hours of ethics credit during their three-year cycle. The IndyBar On-Demand Catalog houses more than 30 different ethics credit courses. Depression and Attorneys: Real Stories & Advice is one of the most highly viewed seminars in our catalog. During this program, presenters engage in an open and honest discussion about the realities of attorney life. Experienced lawyers from diverse backgrounds share their stories of how they triumphed over obstacles and navigated the demands of their legal practice. Viewers are provided an opportunity to learn how to recognize early warning signs and embrace effective coping strategies for managing stress in the legal profession. This program was so popular that we invited more attorneys to share their stories and advice at a second seminar: Depression and Attorneys: New Stories and Real Advice. Both are available in our on-demand catalog. As we face the winter blues, why not fulfil some of your educational requirements by watching a program that’s also good for your well-being?

You can also earn ethics credit diversity-focused programming. One standout option is Cultural Competence in ADR, available in our online catalog. This seminar features accomplished mediators including Nakeina Cane of Cane Legal Group LLC, Lee Christie from Christie Farrell Lee & Bell PC, Norris Cunningham of Stoll Kennon Ogden PLLC, and Mark Metzger of Metzger Rosta LLP. Together, they discuss the essential elements of cultural competence, offering practical tools to navigate diverse backgrounds and ensure effective communication in mediation and arbitration. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your skills, broaden your perspective, and foster more inclusion and effective dispute resolution practices.

In the mood from some true crime content? Horrors of the Circle City, filmed on Halloween (of course), dives into the chilling case of Herb Baumeister, an Indianapolis man infamously known for targeting gay men in the 1990s—a story that has captured attention on numerous serial killer podcasts. This seminar not only examines his disturbing crimes but also sheds light on the unique vulnerabilities faced by LGBTQ+ individuals and the complexities of seeking justice for victims within this community. Sign up to view this gripping exploration of true crime and its deeper social implications—an eye-opening journey into justice and advocacy for marginalized communities.

Finding multiple hours of content based on practice area is a breeze with IndyBar’s bundled programming. Seminars have been grouped together in a variety of subject matters including Artificial Intelligence, Mediation, Business Law and more! These CLE videos have been carefully curated to fit the needs of any busy attorney. You can find them at www.indybar.org/clebundles.  

All IndyBar on-demand programs are accessible for 30 days after purchase and can be completed at your leisure. As an added convenience, viewers don’t have to send in a signed affidavit. Once a program has been viewed in its entirety, IndyBar staff will confirm and report all credits earned within 10 days of completion directly to the Indiana Commission for Admissions and Legal Education. To confirm CLE credit has been reported, attorneys may check their official transcript on the Indiana Courts Portal.

Choose your programming today at www.indybar.org/cle! 
 

Congratulations to these IndyBar members on their accomplishments! Have something to share? Email Becca Lienemann to be featured. 

Gabriella Capocelli recently joined Paganelli Law Group. Gabriella's practice focuses on real estate and business litigation.

Valerie Horvath recently started a new role with the Law Office of Deidra Haynes LLC. Her practice focuses on family law - divorce, custody, child support, parenting time, paternity, and criminal defense work.

Christopher E. Kozak was recently appointed as partner at Plews Shadley Racher  Braun LLP. He is an insurance-coverage and appellate litigator with experience in CGL, D&O, EPL, Professional Liability, Homeowner’s, Commercial Property, Business Income, Excess/Umbrella, and life insurance coverage. 

Fenton Strickland was recently appointed as the Employee Benefits an Executive Compensation Practice Chair at Krieg DeVault LLP.

If you’re looking to enjoy a good book or a good cup of coffee (or both) with colleagues to escape the hustle and bustle of your daily life while cultivating some connections, look no further. IndyBar’s Women and the Law Division has two perfect opportunities for you. Join us at Book Club or one of our Coffee Chats this year. Both of these events are low-pressure, casual, and fun opportunities to connect with other IndyBar members. And no, you don’t have to read the book to attend book club and participate in the conversation! You can learn more about and sign up for these events via www.indybar.org/events. For questions, email Kamryn Reed at kreed@indybar.org.  

Beyond the Book Club 

• January 28 at The Amp        
• April 30 at Burgeezy
• August 27 at 3 Up
• November 5 at Just Pop In

Coffee Catch-Ups

• February 6 at Java House
• May 8 at Commissary
• September 18 at Coat Check

The legal community is invited to attend the public robing ceremony of recently appointed Marion Superior Court Judge Tara Melton on Thursday, February 13 at 3:30 p.m. in the Community Justice Center’s Jury/Public Assembly Room. There will be open seating with additional standing room available. The ceremony is expected to last approximately 30 minutes. Registration is not required. Open seating will be first come, first serve beginning at 3:00 p.m.

Tara Melton has served as a Magistrate Judge, Family Relations Division, since 2021. Prior to her appointment as a magistrate judge, Melton served as the Director of Mediation for Child Advocates, Inc.  She also served in the Marion County Public Defenders Office for 6 years and previously maintained a private practice. A transplant from Florida, Melton has resided in Marion County since 2006. While practicing in Florida, Melton handled various family law cases. Melton received her Juris Doctorate from Florida State University College of Law in 1994 and her undergraduate degree from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in 1991.

Congratulations to these IndyBar members on their accomplishments! Have something to share? Email Becca Lienemann to be featured.

Bryan Babb recently received a Sagamore of the Wabash from Governor Eric Holcomb. This award is given to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding service to the state or the Governor. 

Jaclyn Flint has been recently named a partner with Riley Bennett Egloff LLP. Jaclyn represents and advises clients in a wide variety of business and litigation matters, including matters related to commercial and business litigation, sports, entertainment, media, intellectual property, licensing, and corporate formation.  

Proteus Discover Group is celebrating 10 years! Proteus has consistently delivered cutting-edge eDiscovery solutions that streamline workflows and reduce costs for clients. Congratulations to these founding members: Ray Biederman, Sean Burke, Hamish Cohen, and Jon Mattingly.

The legal community is invited to attend the public robing ceremony of recently appointed Marion Superior Court Judge James Snyder on Thursday, February 6 at 3:30 p.m. in the Community Justice Center’s Jury/Public Assembly Room. There will be open seating with additional standing room available. The ceremony is expected to last approximately 30 minutes. Registration is not required. Open seating will be first come, first serve beginning at 3:00 p.m.

For the term January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026, the appointments for the Marion Superior Court are:

Executive Committee of Marion Superior Court
Presiding Judge - Hon. Marc Rothenberg
Associate Presiding Judges - Hon. Stephen Creason, Hon. Angela Davis, Hon. Marie Kern

Civil Term Chair - Hon. John Chavis
Criminal Term Chair - Hon. Jennifer Harrison
Family Term Chair - Hon. Philip Sheward
Probation Department Supervising Judge - Hon. Helen Marchal
Information Technology Supervising Judge - Hon. Amy Jones

The Executive Committee Judges of the Marion Superior Court have approved the following changes in court room assignments for operations  effective 1-1-2025. 

• Civil Division, Court D11 - Judge Richard A.M. Blaiklock (replacing Judge John Hanley)
• Family Division, Court D15 - Judge Tara Melton (replacing Judge Richard A.M. Blaiklock)
• Criminal Division - Major Felony Section, Court D32 - Judge James Snyder (replacing Judge Mark Stoner)

Meet our next member spotlight, Lisa LaFornara - Partner at Cohen and Malad LLP

Special thanks to the following law students for assisting with the CHIP Handbook of Help in 2024. The project was led by IndyBar's Pro Bono Committee member, Brittany Kelley, Office of Judicial Administration. The project is funded by a grant from the Indianapolis Bar Foundation.

• Maggie Ballentine, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• Alyson Bray, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• Patricia Cavanaugh, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• Caitlyn Fields, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• Eliza Malott, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• Jennifer Tursi, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• Sarah Ullrich, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• John Vance, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• Whitley Wynns, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• Micelle Zeiler, Indiana University Maurer School of Law

If you're interested in volunteering, contact Kari Hartman at khartman@indybar.org

On Friday, December 20, members of the Bench and the Bar gathered for the ceremonious swearing-in of all retained Marion Superior Court Judges. You can watch the ceremony here.