ergo, Spring 2025

News for alumni and friends of Indiana Law

Spring 2025

In this issue:

Fariss, Peters, Singleton, and Strain to be inducted into Academy of Law Alumni Fellows

The Indiana University Maurer School of Law Academy of Law will welcome four new members into its Academy of Law Alumni Fellows this spring with the inductions of Linda Fariss, Agnes Siedlecki Peters, Earl Singleton, and James Strain.

Induction into the ALAF is the highest honor the Law School can bestow upon an alumnus. This year’s ceremony will take place Friday, April 11, in the Indiana Memorial Union in Bloomington.

“Linda, Agnes, Earl, and James have made extraordinary contributions to their local communities, the legal profession, and the Law School,” said Indiana Law Dean Christiana Ochoa. “Their stories are remarkable testaments to the impact our alumni have around the world and we couldn’t be more proud to honor them this spring.”

Read more about this year's honorees

Jennifer Morgan

Jerome Hall Law Library expanding partnership with GPO to preserve government information

The Jerome Hall Law Library is expanding its preservation of U.S. government documents in print, one of several dozen Federal Depository Libraries across the country stepping up to ensure public access to vital records of American history.

Of the more than 1,100 FDLs nationwide, only 63 serve as Preservation Stewards, a national program launched by the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) in 2016 to support the long-term preservation of federal government publications. The Jerome Hall Law Library is one of them.

“We were eager to contribute to preserving legacy print collections that continue to serve Law School faculty and students, the broader IU academic community, and researchers throughout the Midwest,” said Jennifer Morgan, the Library’s Government Information Librarian. “Our participation as a Preservation Steward makes the Jerome Hall Law Library an essential part of the National Collection of U.S. Government Public Information—a coordinated, government-wide initiative to ensure the long-term preservation and accessibility of federal publications.”

Read more the partnership

The Hon. Paul D. Mathias '79

Court of Appeals of Indiana hears oral arguments at Baier Hall

The Court of Appeals of Indiana held oral arguments April 3 inside Baier Hall, as part of the court's "Appeals on Wheels" series. The panel of three judges--the Hon. Nancy H. Vaidik, Paul D. Mathias '79, and Leanna K. Weissmann--heard arguments in State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company v. DiPego et al., a case involving an Indiana woman struck by an unidentified person on an electric scooter in Baltimore, Maryland. Michelle DiPego, the woman struck, asked her insurance company, State Farm, to cover her injury-related expenses through the company’s uninsured motorist provision, but State Farm denied the request.

“The Appeals on Wheels program is the best trust-building tool we have as a judiciary,” said Anne Fuchs, the Court’s director of communications. “The court brings real oral arguments to communities around the state so the public can understand how the judiciary really works. We want them to have experiential knowledge of the courts and to get to know the people ‘behind the robes.’

The judges and participating attorneys took time after the argument to answer questions from the audience.

Watch the arguments

Mark Need

Mark Need leading IU Ventures Fellows cohort, including two Maurer students

An Indiana University Maurer School of Law faculty member is leading—and two of its students participating—in the fourth cohort of IU Ventures, the university’s early-stage venture and angel investment arm.

Mark Need, clinical professor and director of the Law School’s Elmore Entrepreneurship Law Clinic, will lead the 13-student cohort—the largest yet—which includes David Dillon, a second-year JD-MBA candidate, and 1L student Klaus Griesemer.

“I am thrilled by the exceptional diversity and talent in this year’s IU Ventures Fellows class,” said Need, also a venture legal analyst in residence with IU Ventures. “The program’s growing partnership with new and existing campus entrepreneurship programs continues to enrich the Fellows’ experience, providing unparalleled opportunities to engage with real-world venture investing and issues facing scalable startups. The strength of this class underscores the program’s momentum and the expanding reach of our venture ecosystem.”

The IU Ventures Fellows Program immerses students from a range of disciplines in the venture capital industry through National Venture Capital Association curriculum, real-time projects, and deal exposure.

The program runs from January through December and brings together entrepreneurial students who share an interest in venture capital. Students spend the spring semester learning venture finance fundamentals while participating in online and in-person seminars, guest lectures, and class discussions. Some have the opportunity to serve in a venture capital internship over the summer, while everyone works individually and as part of teams in the fall to implement learnings in real-time projects for venture capital projects.

Read more

From left: Professors Jayanth Krishnan, Cindy Cho, Ryan Scott, Gabrielle Goodwin, Robert Downey, Rafael Macía Briedis, and Dean Christiana Ochoa.

Teaching Awards presented to 11 faculty members

Eleven faculty members at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law were honored March 28 for their outstanding contributions to academic life in and outside the classroom.

“This is a moment where we get to reflect and be thoughtful about what happens inside our classrooms,” said Indiana Law Dean Christiana Ochoa, introducing the event. “One of the non-negotiables of teaching is showing up every day with energy and enthusiasm, ready to inspire our students in ways that help them learn and understand complicated subjects. This year’s recipients are outstanding examples of teaching excellence.”

The award nominations were reviewed and winners recommended by a three-member student advisory committee, Samantha Jean, Nicholle Vandy, and Kate Leahey. We are proud to recognize the 2024-25 Teaching Award honorees.

Leon H. Wallace Teaching Award: Jayanth Krishnan

Trustees' Teaching Awards: Valeena Beety, Cindy Cho, Robert Downey, Gabrielle Goodwin, Andrew Hammond, Jenn Oliva, Aviva Orenstein, Steve Sanders, Ryan Scott

Adjunct Teaching Award: Rafael Macía Briedis

Read student comments about the recipients

The Hon. Diane S. Sykes

Rutledge, Stancato earn Moot Court honors in front of distinguished jurists

Second-year students Lily Rutledge and Laura Stancato emerged victorious in this year's Sherman Minton Moot Court finals, before a distinguished panel of jurists.

The Hon. Diane S. Sykes, Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit; the Hon. Richard L.  Young, Senior Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana; and the Hon. Alison Conlon, Judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County (Ill.) heard the final argument on April 4 in the DeLaney Moot Court Room.

The jurists met with students before the event for an informal discussion about life on the bench.

This year’s case, developed by Professors Cindy Cho and Ryan Scott, involved the use of force by two police officers that resulted in the death of an armed robbery suspect. The key legal question centers around whether the officers’ use of deadly force was reasonable under the Fourth Amendment.

CSO Boutique helps students dress for success

Rummaging through the racks, hanger after hanger offers style at a price you can’t beat—free. Here on the third floor of the Law School, the Faculty Conference Room has been transformed into a makeshift storefront. Dresses, suits, dress shirts, sweaters, and more hang from three racks of donated clothing. Each piece already has its own history, but thanks to the generosity of faculty, staff, alumni, and even friends, law students have the opportunity to create their own in donated designer threads.

The Career Services Office Boutique is an annual event that matches clothing some no longer need to students who do.

“When I lived in Washington, D.C., my friends and I would have a clothing swap every year,” said Dean of Students Anne McFadden. “It was an Earth-friendly way of passing things along, and for 15 years we loved doing it. So when I came to the Law School I thought the idea would translate well for our students.”

And it has. Each spring the CSO collects new and gently used clothing, sets it all up on the third floor, and invites students to come take anything they may need to jumpstart—or enhance—their professional wardrobe.

The Boutique is one of several things the CSO does to help students dress for success. The Law School partners with My Sister’s Closet, a second-hand Bloomington apparel staple, for a women’s suiting event where students learn about fits and styles from the store’s resident fashionistas. The CSO also keeps loaner items for students who may find themselves in need of professional attire with little notice.

“We have students who forgot they have a Zoom interview and need to borrow a blazer at the last minute,” McFadden said. “We try to have enough apparel on hand so they can look the part.”

The Boutique has rehomed hundreds of items since it began six years ago (with a pause during the pandemic) and has been a remarkable success.

“The need is more common than you might think,” McFadden said. “We have many students who come from limited means or who come from academic backgrounds or nonprofessional careers where a suit wasn’t necessary. The Boutique is one way we can help.”

The Boutique has become so popular that now people from outside of the Law School community—even as far as D.C.—have contributed items to donate.

Within the first 90 minutes of the Boutique’s opening this week, more than 50 items had already been claimed. Whatever is left at the end of the Boutique’s run is then donated to local thrift and consignment stores.

“Our students are so grateful to have this opportunity,” McFadden said. “This helps seed their professional wardrobe.”

If you’re interested in donating new or gently used professional clothing to a future CSO Boutique, contact Dean McFadden at anmcfadd@iu.edu.

 

Spring photos

The Law School hosted two successful Admitted Student Days for prospective members of the Class of 2028. Guests heard from administrators, faculty, staff, and their soon-to-be fellow students about why Indiana Law is one of the nation's top public law schools.
Professors Asaf Lubin (pictured) and Aviva Orenstein ran two mock law classes as part of Admitted Student Day activities, giving prospective students a sense of how law school classes are conducted.
The Law School has hosted a number of panel discussions focusing on the Rule of Law. Prof. Dawn Johnsen, recently returned from a four-year stint with the Department of Justice, joined fellow faculty members to discuss the use of presidential executive orders.
A separate discussion focused on the state of immigration law. Leading immigration attorney Christie Popp, Professor Jay Krishnan, and UC Davis School of Law Distinguished Professor (and longtime Dean) Kevin Johnson served as discussants. Prof. Johnson is visiting us this spring as the Stewart Center Distinguished Visiting Scholar. Professor Luis Fuentes-Rohwer introduced and moderated the event.
The Indiana Journal of Law and Social Equality hosted "Liberatory Lawyering: Strategies for Transformative Change in the Modern Era" in February. Participants explored transformative approaches to lawyering that diverge from traditional tactics emphasized during the civil rights era. Civil rights litigation traditionally focused on isolated lawsuits and top-down strategies. In contrast, the IJLSE symposium considered interconnected philosophies such as Rebellious Lawyering, Movement Lawyering, and Collective Liberation, which each seek to dismantle systemic injustices through collaborative, grassroots-driven efforts. Panels were moderated by Indiana Law Professors Victor Quintanilla, Amy Applegate, Yvette Butler, and Howard University Professor AJ Link, and Pitzer College Professor Daniel A. Segal.
Ambassador Clint Williamson presented “Accountability for Atrocity Crimes in Ukraine and Beyond in Our Current Political Climate” for an event co-hosted with the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies. Ambassador Williamson is lead coordinator of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group for Ukraine. A former US war crimes ambassador, he also served as lead prosecutor of the European Union Special Investigative Task Force and special expert to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and as a prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. He is Senior Director for International Justice at Georgetown University.
Court of Appeals of Indiana Judges Nancy H. Vaidik (right), a longtime adjunct faculty member, and Paul D. Mathias '79, spoke with the crowd after hearing oral argument as part of the court's "Appeals on Wheels" series in the DeLaney Moot Court Room.
The 37th annual Rapheal M. Prevot, Jr. Barristers' Ball brought much of the Law School together for a night of celebration and fun.
The Barristers' Ball was held in the Woolery Mill, a former limestone processing plant converted into an events space.
Miller (second from left) was honored for her finish as the top student in the Class of 1948.

In memoriam: Jeanne Seidel Miller '48

In an eighth grade public speaking class Jeanne Seidel Miller announced she wanted to be a lawyer – “an international lawyer and make a lot of money.” As it turned out, she never practiced international law and she certainly never became rich, but Jeanne truly loved being a lawyer. She passed away March 22 at the age of 99 in New Haven, Ind.

After graduating from South Side High School, where she was an honor roll student each year, Miller attended Indiana University. Although she received her B.A. in 1946, she actually began taking law school classes as an undergraduate. As a law student she one of just three women in her class, was articles editor for the Indiana Law Journal, and was the first woman to be ranked number one in her class (the photo below shows Jeanne, second from left, accepting a trophy for the achievement). She received her law degree in 1948, the same year she married Mickey M. Miller, a law school classmate.

After graduating, the Millers returned to Fort Wayne and started a family (their three children would all grow up to become lawyers.) Mickey began a firm in Fort Wayne, while Jeanne initially stayed home with the children. By the early 1950s, Jeanne decided to open a general civil practice in the nearby town of New Haven, Indiana. She would remain in practice, in New Haven, for the next 50 years. Along the way, Miller became a force for change in the legal profession in Indiana. She was the first woman to be elected President of the Indiana State Bar Association, she served as President of the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, she served on the Disciplinary Commission of the Indiana Supreme Court, and she served four years as a member of the Indiana University Board of Trustees. In addition, she had been extremely active in Fort Wayne and Allen County community affairs, as well as in service to Indiana University on both the Bloomington and Fort Wayne campuses.

Jeanne Seidel Miller was awarded the Ralph E. Broyles Medal for unique and significant contributions to the I.U. Fort Wayne campus in 1977 and the Indiana University Distinguished Alumni Service award in 1990. Additionally, Miller received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University in 1989, the same year she was inducted into the Law School's Academy of Law Alumni Fellows.