‘Enormously equipped’ McAdam talks building up the Tax Court at robing ceremony

New Indiana Tax Court Judge Justin McAdam takes the judicial oath, administered by former Indiana Chief Justice Brent Dickson. (Photo courtesy of Indiana Tax Court)

For all the references from others about his years in state government and that Harvard law degree, new Indiana Tax Court Judge Justin McAdam wanted everyone at his robing ceremony Wednesday to have a more rounded backstory of how a wannabe scientist ended up on the bench.

That path included a stop in the summer of 2001 outside a guidance counselor’s door at Purdue University.

McAdam, who had been set on becoming a genetic biologist, was having a change of heart. Minutes away from registering from freshman classes, he confided in his parents, and they huddled quickly and landed on math.

Then, over the course of the next year, McAdam said he recognized something his parents probably already knew.

“I like to debate,” he said to those gathered in the Indiana Supreme Court courtroom at the Statehouse.

Now, McAdam is an appellate and trial court judge — both for the first time in his career — for the one-judge Tax Court. He replaced now-Senior Judge Martha Wenworth, who retired after 12 years on the bench.

Gov. Eric Holcomb appointed McAdam in July. He is the third judge of the Tax Court, which was established in 1986.

McAdam, who spent the previous eight years in state government with the Indiana Office of Management & Budget, was one of 10 candidates who applied to replace Wentworth.

He was sworn into his new position Sept. 1 in a private ceremony in the Court of Appeals of Indiana courtroom.

After studying math at Purdue, McAdam transferred to Indiana University and earned bachelor’s degrees in economics and political science. He got his law degree from Harvard University in 2011.

McAdam went on to work as an associate attorney at The Bopp Law Firm in Terre Haute before joining OMB, where he became deputy director and chief legal counsel.

“As you can see, my path to becoming the judge of the Indiana Tax Court has not been traditional,” he said. “But I think it has prepared me well. I bring a unique perspective to the role — one that I believe will enable me to enhance the Tax Court and Indiana judicial system at the same time.”

Just as he did in his interview, McAdam used a portion of his speech at his robing ceremony to lay out goals for the Tax Court.

“My goal as I take the helm of this court,” he said, “is to build on that foundation that has been set in place by my predecessors.”

McAdam said one of the things he’ll need to do in order to accomplish that is to listen to taxpayers, parties and practitioners.

“It is imperative,” he said, “to understand their experiences, their needs and their challenges if this institution is to deliver best-in-class services.”

Former Indiana Chief Justice Brent Dickson administered the oath to McAdam.

Speaking from the podium about McAdam, Dickson said the new judge is “enormously equipped” with knowledge and experience.

But that knowledge and experience extend beyond economics, Dickson said before touting McAdam’s commitment to his family, church and community — including by teaching chess to young people.

“So as you can see,” Dickson said, “our new Tax Court judge is talented and caring — a multidimensional person.”

Rev. Chet Martin, former senior pastor of Light and Life Free Methodist Church in Avon, said people want judges who are wise, knowledgeable, impartial and trustworthy.

Martin said at the ceremony that he was glad to send a letter of recommendation for McAdam to the Judicial Nominating Commission.

“Because, simply put, I trust him,” he said.

Martin said he remembers McAdam balancing both of his daughters on his feet during a daddy-daughter dance at their church and believes McAdam can do the same as a judge.

“I do not pretend to know the issues that will become Justin on this court to which he has been appointed,” Martin said. “But the book I follow teaches that when one is faithful in a little, he can be trusted with more. Justin surely balanced compassion and the law, just as he balanced his twins on their special dance.”