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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowMore than a dozen students from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law and Indiana University Maurer School of Law will take part in a program for law students this summer to assist rural county judges.
The Supporting Rural Justice Initiative offers selected students a front-row seat to the practice of law in rural communities by working hands on with judges. This year, five students from IU McKinney and 10 from IU Maurer will participate.
The effort is a partnership established in 2019 between IU Maurer and the Indiana Supreme Court, aimed at introducing students to different facets of rural and smaller-city practice. IU McKinney joined the program later that year. Indiana Court of Appeals Judge Melissa May helped bring the program to IU McKinney after Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush and COA Judge Edward Najam crafted the idea for the program and introduced it in Bloomington.
Students who participate assist trial court judges with research and drafting motions and opinions, and have the opportunity to learn about courtroom practice and procedure.
Five Indianapolis law students were selected for the 2021 program, including:
- Alexandra Jones, White County.
- Maggie McMillan, Fountain County.
- Abraham Philips, Montgomery County.
- Hunt Reynolds, Orange County.
- Emma Wischmeier, Jennings County.
The 10 Bloomington law students who will be sent out into the field this summer include:
- Abby Akrong, Jackson County.
- John Bignotti, Daviess County.
- Rebecca Conrad, Dearborn County.
- Natalie Cook, Lawrence County.
- Ashley Fleetwood, Greene County.
- Olivia Houston Robbins, Morgan County.
- Caden Pociask, Jasper County.
- Madeline Richmond, Vigo County.
- Hadley Smithhisler, Martin County.
- Nicholas Thompson, Greene County.
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