An Indianapolis employment law attorney has been chosen as the newest U.S. magistrate judge for the Southern District of Indiana.

District judges announced Feb. 28 that they selected Denise K. LaRue to fill the new magistrate position created last fall by the Judicial Conference of the United States. She was one of 44 people to apply for the post by the November deadline, and a merit selection panel chaired by Indianapolis attorney John Trimble sent fives names to the judges for consideration in early February.

A 1989 cum laude graduate of Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis, LaRue is a name partner at Haskin & LaRue, where she began as an associate when the firm opened in 1994.
 

LaRue

She worked as a staff attorney at the Indiana Civil Rights Commission prior to joining the firm. In her current position, she has represented clients in all aspects of employment law matters involving discrimination and retaliation claims under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. She has also handled claims involving constitutional due process, free speech, and political association violations, as well as federal labor and wage and hour issues.

LaRue is a life member of the Marion County Bar Association, and her legal community leadership roles have included membership with the National Employment Lawyers Association - Indiana and serving on the Southern District of Indiana’s Local Rules Advisory Committee. She serves on the board of the Indiana Minority Health Coalition and has served the Indianapolis chapter of Jack and Jill of America, The Links, and Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

“We are very pleased that Denise LaRue, with her strong background in litigating civil matters in federal court, will be joining our court family,” Chief Judge Richard Young said in a news release. “We are certain that she will be a valuable addition to the bench.”

Once a background check is complete, LaRue’s eight-year term begins April 1. She will be eligible for reappointment to successive terms. The $160,080 salary position means LaRue will get initial assignments and handle pre-trial work and mediation and settlement conferences, as well as limited criminal jurisdiction to hear misdemeanors. With the consent of the parties in litigation, magistrates can hear full cases and take them to trial.

The announcement of LaRue’s appointment came on the heels of the District Court’s investiture ceremony Feb. 25 for full-time Magistrate Judge Mark J. Dinsmore, who the judges selected last fall. He succeeded the Hon. Jane Magnus-Stinson, who was elevated last year to an Article III judgeship.

LaRue joins the current roster of other full-time Magistrate Judges Tim Baker, Debra McVicker Lynch, and William Hussman; as well as part-time Magistrates Craig McKee and Mike Naville who handle search warrant and criminal matters; and recalled Magistrate Kennard Foster.•