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For almost two decades before launching her legal career, Orange Superior Court Judge Debra Andry was a nurse.
“Nursing was just changing and my job was changing and I was looking for what I wanted to do next so the door opened for me to go to law school,” Andry said.
She went to Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2001 and graduated in 2004. Andry said she became interested in the legal side of things at the hospital where she worked when they would have her do investigations of incidents where patient outcomes weren’t the best.
“When I graduated then from law school, I went to a small firm down in New Albany that did medical malpractice defense for the hospitals and the doctors and things down in that area,” Andry said.
She had a solo practice in Paoli for six years and then worked for the Lawrence County Public Defender Agency for three years. Prior to joining the bench, Andry worked with the Indiana Department of Child Services as a staff attorney for almost three years.
“Each position was a step in leading me to run for judge of the Orange County Superior Court,” Andry said.
Andry was elected in 2020 and took the bench in 2021. She made history by becoming the first female elected judge in Orange County.
“Very honored to have that position,” Andry said.
Andry is the latest Indiana trial judge to be featured in Indiana Lawyer’s Spotlight series profiling jurists in more rural counties. Here is what she had to say about life on and off the bench.
What is something that surprised you about being a judge?
Well, part of it is, you have to have a game face. Because you’re, you’re up there in front of everybody. And it’s like, okay, this may be kind of shocking. But they’ll react. And another good thing to remember is that don’t jump to your decision for the people that you’re hearing the case. This is the most important thing for them right now, so make a good reasoned decision.
Do you have a favorite memory from your time as judge?
I think what has touched me the most is the support that I get from the local judges in the area. Being new on the bench, you run into situations that you didn’t even know could come up, and they’ve all been very open to giving guidance and supporting and being sure that I have what I need to make a good decision. And I really appreciate that.
What is something that you have learned about yourself since becoming a judge?
Trying to do the job or being compassionate to the individuals that are in front of you, but a judge has to follow the law. And that may be different than what my own personal opinions might be. But follow the law. Going in I’m not sure that I expected to maybe have to address that as often as I do. If it were just me, I might do this decision. But that’s not what the law says.
What are you doing when you’re not on the bench?
So my husband, Bryan, is retired. Now, our children are grown. But we still like to get to the lake when we can and, of course, take vacations to the lake. Sometimes it’s only to Patoka but get down there. When our grandkids come home, they’re still small. We have three grandkids we love to death and luckily they liked the water too. So we take them out. Let them fish and swim in the lake. So that’s the most fun thing. We also have, it’s not a huge amount of property, but it has to be mowed and so we’re oftentimes out doing that.
My daughter, Katy Ash, is an ER Doctor. She currently works with the Community Hospitals around Indianapolis. She has 3 children, Maryn, Calvin, and Dean. My son, David Andry, is an electrical engineer working in Louisville.
Although I am a staunch IU fan, my husband and children all graduated from Purdue. We are truly a house divided.
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