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Professor Emeritus Henry C. Karlson passed away on Monday, October 25, 2010, after a battle with cancer. Karlson taught criminal law at Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis for over 30 years, and was a frequent commentator for local media outlets. He joined the law school faculty in 1977 and retired in 2008. Even after retiring, however, he continued to teach part-time.
Vice Dean Paul Cox, the Centennial Professor of law, says, “Henry Karlson was an important fixture at this law school for many years. He was a teacher passionately dedicated to his students and passionately intent upon instilling in them dedication to the rule of law. He loved the law school, greatly contributing to its development and success.” Professor Cox added, “He loved the law, greatly contributing both to its advancement and to the continuing education of the practicing bar. He was highly principled, and fearless in defending his principles. He was equally fearless in defending those he thought wronged. Henry's passing is tragically premature. He will be greatly missed by his colleagues and his former students.”
Professor Karlson served for eight years in the United States Army where he was appointed a Trial Judge as a member of the U.S. Army Trial Judiciary and served as a Trial Judge in Vietnam.
Before joining the faculty at Indiana University, he taught at the University of Illinois College of Law. Over the years, he taught not only criminal law, but evidence, trial practice, and a seminar dealing with child abuse. A noted expert on child abuse, he not only co-authored a book on the subject, he also wrote articles that appeared in the APSAC Handbook on Child Maltreatment, the Indiana Law Review, the Journal of Child Abuse and Neglect, the Annals of Emergency Medicine and the Defense Law Journal. In addition, he delivered papers at more than one hundred continuing legal education programs.
Professor Karlson was a qualified expert witness on the issue of the proper methods for questioning very young children, and on the issue of lawyer competency. He was a member of the Association of Counsel for Children, the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Order of the Coif and a former member of the Indiana Supreme Court Committee on Rules of Evidence and the Board of Examiners of the National Board of Trial advocacy.
He received his A.B., J.D. and LL.M. degrees from the University of Illinois.
Professor Karlson is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughter, Elizabeth M. Karlson,’00 (Chris); son, Henry C. Karlson III; and one grandson.
UPDATE: The viewing and funeral will take place on Friday, October 29, 2010 at Crown Hill Cemetery. The viewing will start at 11:00 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 1:00 p.m..

The family requests that donations in Professor Karlson's honor be made to the Hoosier Veterans Assistance Foundation (HVAF) or your favorite cancer charity in lieu of flowers.