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When Indiana lawmakers convene Monday to formally begin the 2024 legislative session, just 15% of those lawmakers will hold a law degree.
A total of 23 Indiana legislators hold a J.D., according to an Indiana Lawyer review of lawmakers’ educational backgrounds. That comes out to 15.3% of the state’s 150 legislators.
Indiana senators holding a J.D. include:
- Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville (Valparaiso University School of Law)
- Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne (University of Iowa)
- Sen. Cyndi Carrasco, R-Indianapolis (Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law)
- Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso (South Texas College of Law)
- Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis (University of Dayton School of Law)
- Sen. Sue Glick, R-LaGrange (IU McKinney)
- Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle (IU McKinney)
- Sen. Eric Koch, R-Bedford (IU Maurer School of Law)
- Sen. R. Michael Young, R-Indianapolis (IU McKinney)
- Senate Minority Leader Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis (IU Maurer)
- Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton (IU McKinney)
- Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago (John Marshall Law School, now the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law)
Indiana representatives holding a J.D. include:
- Rep. Chris Jeter, R-Fishers (George Washington University)
- Rep. Jennifer Meltzer, R-Shelbyville (IU McKinney)
- Rep. Kyle Pierce, R-Anderson (IU McKinney)
- Rep. Mike Speedy, R-Indianapolis (IU McKinney)
- Rep. Greg Steuerwald, R-Avon (IU McKinney)
- Rep. Alex Zimmerman, R-North Vernon (IU McKinney)
- Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis (Harvard Law School)
- Rep. Ryan Dvorak, D-South Bend (IU McKinney)
- Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary (Valparaiso)
- Rep. Ryan Hatfield, D-Evansville (Southern Illinois University School of Law)
- Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington (IU Maurer)
This year’s 23 lawyer-legislators is up from 2022, when 21 lawmakers, or 14% of the General Assembly, held a J.D.
But that number could go down in 2025, as Hatfield has announced that he won’t seek reelection in 2024.
Two lawyer-legislators were added this year when Carrasco was selected to replace the late Sen. Jack Sandlin and Zimmerman was selected to replace former Rep. Randy Frye, who resigned for health reasons.
While both of Indiana’s Senate caucus leaders, Bray and Taylor, are attorneys, neither House leader — Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, and Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne — is.
No member of Indiana’s congressional delegation holds a law degree, nor does the state’s junior senator, Mike Braun. Senior Sen. Todd Young, a Republican, holds a J.D. from IU McKinney.
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