News Archive

Chief Judge Larry J. McKinney announced that Marion County criminal court judge Jane Magnus-Stinson, ‘83 will replace Judge V. Sue Shields as U.S. Magistrate when she retires in January of 2007. Magnus-Stinson will serve as Magistrate for an eight-year period and will be eligible for reappointment.

Professor Jeff Grove remembers Magnus-Stinson as the “premier student in my Civil Procedure course at IU Law-Indianapolis.” He added that, “This was a harbinger of many things to come. Since then, her accomplishments and honors have continued to pile-up. The intelligence, diligence, sound judgment and record of high achievement that defined her work at the law school have carried forward into her professional life. The Marion County Superior Court will soon lose one of its most talented judges, but the federal district court for Southern Indiana will welcome an exceptionally well-qualified and worthy successor to Magistrate Judge Sue Shields.” Magnus-Stinson graduated cum laude from the law school in 1983. Professor Larry Jegen also remembers her well. “She was very fine student and well liked by the faculty and students who knew her,” Jegen said. “I know she will do very well as a U.S. Magistrate.”

Magnus-Stinson worked as chief counsel to Indiana Governor Evan Bayh from 1991-94. She is currently a member of the Superior Court’s executive committee.

Magnus-Stinson was one of only five judges from Indiana to be named to the country's top 500 judges list as published by Lawdragon.com. The web site, which provides legal referrals and legal news, determines the final list based upon peer review and its own independent research. She was the only state trial judge in Indiana who made the list. The list can be viewed at www.lawdragon.com