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Five alumni of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law were honored during the Indianapolis Bar Association’s annual recognition breakfast: John F. Kautzman, Norris Cunningham, Judge Robyn Moberly, Kathleen Meek, and Andrew Fogle. The event took place on November 22.

John F. Kautzman, J.D. ’84, received the association’s highest honor, the Luminary Award of Excellence, formerly known as the Buchanan Award of Excellence. Kautzman served as president of the IndyBar in 2005 and remains on the association’s board of directors. He is a past president of the Metropolitan Bar Caucus and now serves on the executive council of the National Conference of Bar Presidents. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation. He maintains several professional affiliations, including the Indianapolis Bar Association, the Indiana State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He is a past president of the Indiana University Foundation Board of Associates and is a Life Member of the Indiana University Alumni Association. Kautzman is also a past chair of IU McKinney’s Board of Visitors.

In bestowing its most prestigious award to Kautzman, the Indianapolis Bar Association and Indianapolis Bar Foundation “are recognizing his leadership in the legal community and the community at large and his ability to inspire and positively impact others, bringing honor to the legal profession,” read the association and foundation press release announcing the honor. Kautzman is partner at Ruckleshaus Kautzman Blackwell in Indianapolis.

Norris Cunningham, J.D. ’96, received the Dr. John Morton-Finney Jr. Award. Cunningham was selected for the honor for his work in creating the Law Education and Mock Trial program at Arsenal Tech High School, newly named Classrooms to Courtrooms: Building Broader Pipelines to Legal Education. The program is designed to build a broader pipeline and network for underserved students who have either not considered a legal career or who do not have access to higher education, allowing them to have a positive exposure to legal practice. The program is focused on litigation through mock trial; students also learn about a variety of practice areas and skills for attorneys and other legal professionals.

Upon learning he had been chosen for the honor, Cunningham recalled meeting Dr. Morton-Finney, J.D. ’44. “In 1995, during my third year of law school, I was president of the Black Law Students Association, and it was my privilege to accompany John Morton-Finney when he came to speak at the school. He was 106 years old, still practicing law out of his home, and with a razor-sharp wit,” Cunningham said. “Before his lecture to the students, I sat with him and Dean Norman Lefstein in the dean’s office and learned so much about Dr. Morton-Finney’s life — the struggles and the triumphs. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. To be presented an award with his name on it is simply unfathomable to me.” Cunningham is a member at SKO in Indianapolis.

Judge Robyn Moberly, J.D. ’78, was presented with the association’s Silver Gavel Award. Judge Moberly was appointed by the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit to serve as the first female bankruptcy judge for the Southern District of Indiana in 2012. Prior to her appointment, she served as a general practitioner for 17 years, then as a judge for 16 years on the Superior Court bench in Indianapolis, where she presided over the major felony and civil courts.

Judge Moberly has been active in the legal community, having served as president of the IU McKinney School of Law Alumni Association, member of the Board of Visitors for the IU McKinney School of Law, president of the Indiana Judges Association, president and board member of the Indianapolis Bar Association, board member of the Indiana Judicial Conference, and associate presiding judge of the Marion (County) Superior Court. She received the Maynard K. Hine Medal in 2021 in recognition of her contribution and support of the IUPUI campus and its alumni programs.

Kathleen Meek, J.D. ’05, received the IndyBar’s Professionalism Award. She is supervising custody attorney at Kid’s Voice of Indiana. The person who nominated Meek for this honor said: “Katie is often stepping up to help her colleagues when needed. She does all of this with a constant smile and positive attitude, something that can be rare in the contentious world of law, especially family law! Katie is known to be reasonable, kind, responsive and professional at all times. She is a role model for other attorneys — both young and old.”

Andrew Fogle, J.D. ’76, received the association’s Unsung Hero Award. Fogle is an attorney in the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office. The person who nominated Fogle for this award said: “Fogle is one of the finest lawyers and finest human beings in our legal community … Andy is a thoughtful evaluator of the considerations in these cases, he is patient, he wields the power of the prosecutor’s office modestly, and in all cases, with the highest commitment to civility and professionalism. He is a credit to the prosecutor’s office and to our profession, and he is very deserving of recognition for his decades of service.”