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The Honorable Jane Magnus-Stinson, J.D. ’83, retired from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana July 1. Judge Magnus-Stinson will continue to serve as a senior judge.

“The law school is grateful to Judge Magnus-Stinson for her years of service on our Board of Visitors and her dedication to helping our students find their way in the legal profession,” said IU McKinney Dean Karen E. Bravo. “Over the years, her administration of the Oath of Professionalism has been a highlight of the law school’s Call to the Profession ceremonies. I wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement.”

Judge Magnus-Stinson was sworn in as a Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana on June 14, 2010. With the support of Senators Richard Lugar and Evan Bayh, Judge Magnus-Stinson was nominated by President Barack Obama on January 20, 2010.

 Prior to her appointment as district judge, Judge Magnus-Stinson served as a magistrate judge in the Southern District of Indiana, beginning in January 2007. Preceding that appointment, she was appointed and then twice elected judge of the Marion Superior Court serving from 1995-2007. She served as associate presiding judge during 2005-06. Judge Magnus-Stinson served as counsel and deputy chief of staff to Governor Evan Bayh from 1991 to 1995. She maintained a civil litigation practice at the firm of Lewis Wagner from 1983 through 1990.

 Judge Magnus-Stinson has served on the Defender Services Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States Courts, the Seventh Circuit Criminal Pattern Jury Instructions Committee, the Seventh Circuit Advisory Committee on Rules, and the Seventh Circuit Committee on Supervised Release.

Judge Magnus-Stinson is a trustee of Butler University, and a former member of the Board of Visitors of the Indiana University McKinney School of Law. She is a frequent teacher of judges and lawyers, teaching trial advocacy on both a national and international basis. She is active in the Indianapolis Bar Association serving as the chair of its Pro Bono Standing Committee from 2005-06, as a vice president in 2004, and on the Board of Managers in 2002-03. She is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Indiana Judicial Conference, and past member of the Board of Managers of the Indiana Judges Association, and Chair of its Criminal Jury Instructions Committee, coordinating a complete revision of the Indiana Criminal Pattern Jury Instructions.

 Judge Magnus-Stinson is a 1983 cum laude graduate of the Indiana University McKinney School of Law, and a 1979 cum laude graduate of Butler University. In addition, she is a past member and Vice-chair of the Wishard Memorial Foundation Board of Directors and past president of Big Sisters of Central Indiana.