Legal Profession in Indiana

Judge William H. Andrews, III, born June 7, 1934, discusses his educational background, family history, and career as an attorney and judge in Monroe County, Indiana. He attended school throughout his life, mostly in Bloomington. For his undergraduate degree he attended DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, and returned to Bloomington to earn a law degree from Indiana University School of Law. He then served in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps at Fairchild Air Force Base. After returning to Bloomington he started his own private practice. Mr. Andrews was the elected city judge for Bloomington, Indiana from 1972-1976. He speaks of the general state of the legal profession in Indiana, and the services the Indiana Bar Association provides. He discusses the public's perception of the legal profession. Mr. Andrews speaks of his tenure on the bench as the city judge for Bloomington, Indiana. He describes the typical work week as a judge, the kinds of cases he tried, and his sentencing philosophy. Mr. Andrews speaks of the programs he started as the city judge: a small claims court, a bond program, an alcohol rehabilitation program, a probation officer program, and the earned dismissal program. Mr. Andrews also discusses of the judicial system in Indiana and how its different branches relate to each other.

Leroy Baker outlines his life history and gives his perceptions of some aspects of the legal profession in Indiana. He discusses growing up an a farm in Dearborn County, Indiana, and moving to Bloomington, Indiana in the 1920s to attend Indiana University School of Law. After earning his law degree he began a private practice in Bloomington. During the Great Depression he was the prosecuting attorney for Monroe and Owen Counties. He was also a member of the Indiana National Guard, and during World War II spent some time in Hawaii and the Philippines. After the war Mr. Baker returned to Bloomington to his private practice. He describes the Indiana Bar Association and its role in disciplining attorneys. He discusses the structure of the judicial system in Indiana and the changes that have been made over the years. He discusses major social events and their impact on law in Indiana, such as Prohibition, the Great Depression, the Ku Klux Klan, the Cold War, and the Miranda law. Mr. Baker ends the interview by giving his impression of the state of the legal profession in Indiana.

William Bontrager, attorney and judge in Elkhart, Indiana, discusses the legal profession in Indiana. He first outlined his childhood and educational background, culminating in a law degree from the Indiana University School of Law. He discusses his father's, D. Russell Bontrager, career in the law. He reflects upon the success and actions of the Indiana Bar Association. He discusses the public's perceptions of the legal profession in Indiana. Mr. Bontrager describes the powers and procedures of the courts in Elkhart, Indiana and the rest of the state. He describes his appointment to the Indiana Board of Corrections, focusing on the innovations and challenges of the correctional system in Indiana. He outlines criminal rehabilitation programs like work release, shock probation, and probation. He discusses correctional facilities and their relationship to the community they are located in. He discusses the interactions between the Board of Corrections, the Department of Corrections, and the governor's office. Mr. Bontrager finally reflects on the political aspects of his tenure as judge in Elkhart, and the public's influence on a judge's decision making process.

Ralph F. Fuchs, professor emeritus from the Indiana University School of Law, discusses the legal profession in Indiana. He outlines his childhood and educational background. He speaks of his time practicing law in St. Louis, Missouri, and teaching at Washington University. He discusses his activities with the American Association of University Professors. Professor Fuchs discusses the concept of academic freedom, its importance in educational philosophy, and McCarthyism's impact on academic freedom. He outlines his work for the government on both a state and federal level. He speaks of his involvement with the American Civil Liberties Union, the Indiana Civil Liberties Union, and the Bloomington Civil Liberties Union. He describes his work with the United States Solicitor General's Office and the United State Supreme Court, outlining some of the cases he worked on. Professor Fuchs ends the interview describing how he would like to be remembered.

Monroe County Circuit Court judge Nat Hill discusses his involvement with the legal profession in Indiana. He grew up in Bloomington, Indiana and attended the Indiana University School of Business and School of Law. He discusses his reasons for running for the circuit court and some of the details of his campaigns. He describes the Indiana judicial system and the Monroe County judicial system. Judge Hill reflects on the changing nature of the legal profession in Indiana, which he feels is becoming more difficult and cumbersome. He describes the sharp increase in criminal cases he has seen in his court over the years, which he feels is partially due to the "drug culture." He talks of political party activity in Bloomington, Indiana, and the difference between the Democratic Party and Republican Party. He discusses his reasons for being a member of the Republican party. He reflects on the decline of the stone industry in southern Indiana. He ends the interview describing his interests in horse racing and his opinions on pari-mutuel gambling, which he feels would greatly benefit the Indiana economy if the legislature made it legal.

David Rogers, born in Bloomington, Indiana in July 1928, discusses his involvement with the legal profession in Indiana. He outlines his educational background, which included a law degree from Indiana University School of Law. He discusses his private practice in Bloomington, Indiana regarding the types of clients he has and the prices he charges them for services provided. He talks about his experiences in the Indiana General Assembly. He describes the structure and function of the general assembly and the changes that have happened over the years. Mr. Rogers also describes the changes that the legal profession in Indiana has undergone through the years, and the public's perception of attorneys. He also describes the political make-up of Bloomington, Indiana and how the Republican Party and Democratic Party interact.