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On June 26, U.S. Magistrate Judge William T. Lawrence, '73 was unanimously approved by the United States Senate as the newest federal district judge for the Southern District of Indiana.  President Bush selected Lawrence in February of this year to take the seat vacated by Judge John D. Tinder who now sits on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

While introducing Lawrence at the Senate Judiciary Committee nomination hearing, Senator Richard Lugar praised Judge Lawrence for his "high energy, resolute integrity, and remarkable dedication to public service."

Judge Lawrence has served as a public defender in Marion County and as a Master Commissioner of the Marion County Circuit Court.  He was elected to the Marion County Circuit Court in 1996, and appointed to the Federal bench in 2002.  Judge Lawrence has experience as a Public Defender in the Marion County Criminal Court and in private practice.  Other community contributions have included his appointment as Executive Director of Indiana's first Merit Selection Commission on Federal Judicial Appointments (1980); service on the Indianapolis Fire Department Civilian Merit Board (1983-1989); and Chairmanship of the Indianapolis Bar Association's Continuing Legal Education Commission (1997-2003).