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Indiana’s newest lawyers took their oaths of admission Wednesday as the state’s jurists showered them with praise for their accomplishments and offered advice about moving forward into the legal community.
It was an especially important day for two federal judges and their families.
Indiana Southern District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson administered the oath for those who were being admitted to the Southern District Court.
Among the admittees was the judge’s daughter, Jill Stinson.
“As you’ve heard,” Magnus-Stinson started after administering the oath, “I’m here today in several capacities.”
Magnus-Stinson teared up as she talked about her “most treasured capacity” — being a mother.
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Addressing the admittees seated in front of her, Magnus-Stinson recognized the former students who did pro bono work in law school — some more than 200 hours.
And she told the new lawyers about what she considers the most important pledge from the state’s oath: “I will never reject, from any consideration personal to myself, the cause of the defenseless, the oppressed or those who cannot afford adequate legal assistance.”
Magnus-Stinson, who will assume senior status next year, ended her speech by adapting advice from a Kenny Chesney song, “Get Along.”
“Tell the truth,” she said to the cadence of the song’s chorus. “Help the poor. Call your mom. Write a will. Try a case. Fight the power. Make a friend. And uphold the rule of law.”
Indiana Northern District Court Chief Judge Holly Brady administered the oath for those who were being admitted to the Northern District Court — and she also did so with her son, Nicholas Brady, among the admittees.
“Nick is going to make his own name,” Brady said, noting that he doesn’t like being called “Judge Brady’s son.” “What I will say is of all the titles I’ve had over the years, there’s no title I cherish more than mom.”
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Brady told the admittees about the importance of respecting opposing counsel, colleagues and clients.
“You will have clients that get upset with you about things that are completely outside of your control,” she said. “Be patient with your clients and understand that the matter we’re handling for them — while it may be one of 50 matters that you’re handling — it is likely the most important matter pending in that individual’s life.”
There were 251 applicants admitted at the ceremony in the Indiana Convention Center. Two applicants were from the February bar exam, and one was a Uniform Bar Exam transfer.
‘It’s going to be OK, buddy’
After each admittee had gone through the line and read their name aloud over a microphone, Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush joked that the hardest part of the day was over.
“This is a glorious day,” she said from her seat at the front of the Sagamore Ballroom in the Indiana Convention Center.
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Court of Appeals of Indiana Chief Judge Robert Altice encouraged the new lawyers to look around the room and understand that they’re not just seeing new colleagues, but also mentors.
“We’re so proud of you,” he said, “and we want to support you.”
Justice Christopher Goff closed the ceremony by telling a story about himself as a new lawyer.
During one of his first trials, Goff said he stood to make his closing argument and accidentally spilled an entire pitcher of water in his lap.
“I spilled that water in full view of the judge, in full view of opposing counsel, in full view of my client and in full view of the jury,” he said. “It was embarrassing.”
Goff told the admittees they will also have bad days.
“I’m sorry to say that, but you need to hear it,” he said.
Goff said if he could go back in time, he would tell the 20-year-old version of himself one thing: “It’s going to be OK, buddy.”
“But I can’t go back in time,” he continued, “so I’m going to tell you the same thing: ‘It’s going to be OK, buddy.’”
Editor’s note: This article has been corrected to show that Judge Magnus-Stinson’s daughter is named Jill.
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