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Indiana Secretary of State – Securities Division
Regent University School of Law, 2014
Why did you decide to enter the legal profession?
If you ask my parents, they might respond by saying that it was inevitable. As a child, I always had something to say about solving a problem and wanted to either litigate or mitigate, depending on the predicament I found myself in. I guess that personality stayed with me as I was considering career trajectories in undergrad at IU.
If you hadn’t pursued a legal career, what would you be doing?
In my dream world, I would own a wildly successful scuba excursion business in the Caribbean. In reality, I would likely be working in the financial technology space.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Never sacrifice your principles for the sake of gain or ease. To paraphrase my grandfather Roy Haney: You will not regret a life lived boldly for what you believe.
What makes a good lawyer/judge?
A good lawyer should not try to know everything but strive to become as efficient as possible at finding solutions to novel or unique situations.
What is something you wish people knew about lawyers?
Most of us are poorly situated to answer “just [a] quick legal question” in an area we don’t commonly practice.
Tell us about a “lesson learned” moment you’ve had in your career.
Regardless of preparation, the little things can still trip you up if you are in a hurry when practicing law. As a very green deputy prosecutor, I remember being fully prepared for a plea hearing, only to initially begin a factual basis on the wrong count. I had prepared well for the hearing, but due to my nerves and haste, I made a careless mistake. Fortunately, I was easily able to correct my error, but my frustration and embarrassment in the moment taught me a valuable lesson: Slow down and always be thoughtful before you speak.
Tell us something surprising about you.
I am a very proud Hoosier! My roots in Indiana and the legal profession run deep. My grandmother Martha Rodebeck (Harrison) was a court reporter for Judge William Elwood Steckler in the Southern District of Indiana and through her side of the family, I am a direct descendant of U.S. presidents Benjamin Harrison and William Henry Harrison.
Who is someone who has inspired you in your career?
My father, Brad Rodebeck. He is not in the legal field but epitomizes hard work and persistence in his career. He didn’t talk about it, but he showed it through his actions. I like to think I took notice.
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