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Monday, August 09, 2010
Ind. Courts - Reports on Magnus-Stinson investiture ceremony
The Indy Star's weekly column, "Behind Closed Doors," had this item yesterday. Some quotes:
As if to prove that the judges who serve on the U.S. District Court in Indianapolis are a collegial bunch, they engaged in light ribbing Friday of new appointee Jane Magnus-Stinson.Like the C-SPAN camera, in this case the ISBA camera was there. Here are two video clips from the ceremony:During her investiture ceremony, which includes the oath of office, her colleagues delivered humor-laced tributes inside an ornate courtroom.
Judge William T. Lawrence noted in deadpan style how proud he was that a story about the Mount Prospect, Ill., native's appointment appeared deep inside a suburban Chicago newspaper, next to obituaries and a story about a restaurant closing. [The ILB blogged that story from the Mount Prospect paper, here.]
Taking her turn, Judge Sarah Evans Barker first asked for Chief Judge Richard L. Young's microphone. Seeing a teachable moment, she said: "Jane, we always ask. Instead of grabbing the microphone, we ask."
Barker, for more than two decades the only female federal judge in the Southern District of Indiana, noted the arrival of Magnus-Stinson and another recent appointee, Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
"I have to admit my concern . . . that my two women colleagues might conspire against me from time to time," she said.
She cited a recent flare-up in California in which Carly Fiorina, the Republican Senate challenger to Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, mocked Boxer's hairdo. Barker said some might characterize her hair, which is short and styled conservatively, as "so yesterday."
"Now if that is your view, candor would require me to say that it isn't the only thing about me that is so yesterday," she said, drawing laughter.
Indianapolis attorney Monica Foster, who served as "mistress of ceremonies" -- a title she requested -- corrected Barker later, calling her hairdo "bangin'."
On a more serious note, Foster spoke of the significance of the two recent appointments during her introduction of Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., who shepherded their nominations through the Senate.
"Senator Bayh has done more to make this court look like the people it serves in the state of Indiana than any other person," Foster said, "and for that, we thank you."
- Guests singing "America the Beautiful" at Hon. Jane E. Magnus Stinson's swearing-in ceremony, featuring Judge Tim A. Baker on guitar
- Hon. Jane E. Magnus-Stinson was sworn in as a judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana yesterday afternoon! Only the third woman ever to be named to the federal bench in Indiana, she was nominated by President Obama.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on August 9, 2010 09:34 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts