IndyBar: Raise Your Hand for The Rule of Law

By Christine Hickey, Rubin & Levin PC; Travis Jensen, Johnson Jensen LLP

Close your eyes. Envision yourself when you stood, hand raised, and were sworn into the most noble of professions. You probably recall what you were wearing, those who came to support you, how you would celebrate, and the excitement for the career ahead. Your first business card. Your first case. Your first victory and first loss. But somewhere between the I do and now, chances are that you do not remember the words you spoke that day. You’re not alone.

The phrase The Rule of Law is everywhere these days. It is spoken, written, misunderstood by the masses, and repeated without digesting the true import of those four simple words. But as lawyers and judges, we understand that those four simple words carry great significance. The Indianapolis Bar Association is committed to engaging with our legal community and the public by educating and informing on the foundational principles of our profession, our society, and our great Nation through the Rule of Law Initiative.

With the help of volunteers, our work starts now. Our goal is simple: to strengthen an understanding of the core principles that are critical to maintaining trust in our legal system; to educate on why judicial independence can never be compromised; to explain why the independence of the legal profession must be protected; to bring strength through knowledge; and to promote a public understanding of the Rule of Law. Every lawyer and judge is crucial to a united, informed, apolitical voice to be heard loud and clear by the citizens of our city, our state, and our friends and families far and wide. You are critical to our success, and your involvement starts now.

At noon on May 1, Law Day, we will ask you to Raise Your Hand in person on the steps of the Birch Bayh Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, or virtually from your office or courtroom, at IndyBar’s inaugural Law Day event – the “Rule of Law Rally.” Along with lawyers and judges from around the state, we will be celebrating the Rule of Law, the independence of the judiciary, and the legal profession. Our co-hosts include the Indiana State Bar Association, Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Indiana, Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana, Indianapolis Trial Lawyers Association, Indianapolis Bar Foundation, Indiana Bar Foundation, and the Marion County Bar Association. We anticipate more co-hosts will join us. You can find the most up-to-date information about the Inaugural Law Day Rally at www.indybar.org/lawday. Highlighting the importance of this occasion are our special guests, Indiana Supreme Court Justice Christopher Goff who will share remarks on the importance of the Rule of Law, and Senior Judge Sarah Evans Barker who will lead a reaffirmation of the Oath of Attorneys that you took years ago. We are going to dust it off and bring it back to life. Join us.

Post-note: The Rule of Law Initiative will be sharing information on its work through the IndyBar. If you want to join in the effort, just raise your hand. Reach out to us by email. [email protected].

The members of the Executive Committee for the IndyBar Rule of Law Initiative are Chris Hickey and Travis Jensen, Co-Chairs, Frank Sullivan, Joel Schumm, Amy Johnson, Raio Krishnayya, and Thomas Jones.•

Christine Hickey is the managing partner of Rubin & Levin, P.C. in Indianapolis where she practices in the area of creditors’ rights. She is a Past President of the Indianapolis Bar Association and Foundation, the National Conference of Bar Foundations and National Conference of Bar Presidents, and a past member of the ABA Board of Governors and ABA Executive Committee. Chris is co-chair of IndyBar’s Rule of Law Initiative.

Travis Jensen is the Immediate Past President of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation. He is a partner at Johnson Jensen where he represents individuals who have suffered serious injuries or lost loved ones due to negligence. Travis is co-chair of IndyBar’s Rule of Law Initiative.