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The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana has selected Liberty L. Roberts for the position of United States magistrate judge in the Indianapolis Division, filling the vacancy soon to be created by the retirement of Judge Mark Dinsmore in January 2027.
Roberts, a partner in the Fishers office of law firm Church Church Hittle & Antrim, was selected following an application process led by a Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Committee, which was chaired by Faegre Drinker associate Kristina Coleman and included 10 attorneys and two members of the community. Together, the committee reviewed several applications and narrowed the search to five finalists.
The district court’s judges interviewed the five finalists and unanimously selected Roberts for the position.
“I am deeply honored by the confidence placed in me through this appointment,” Roberts said in a press release. “The federal judiciary plays a vital role in upholding the rule of law, ensuring equal access to justice, and maintaining public confidence in our system of government. I have long respected the important work of our federal courts and this court’s commitment to the just, efficient, and impartial administration of justice. I am humbled to join the court and contribute to its mission. It is a privilege to undertake this responsibility.”
Roberts, who grew up in Parke and Fountain counties in Indiana, earned her bachelor’s degree from Franklin College in 1997 and her juris doctorate from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 2001.
Upon earning her law degree, Roberts joined a solo practitioner and established the firm Collier-Magar & Roberts P.C. in Indianapolis. She then opened the solo firm Roberts Legal Group, LLC in 2012, specializing in civil rights and employment law litigation for schools, cities and towns.
In 2014, Roberts merged with Church Church Hittle & Antrim, where she became partner. She now chairs the firm’s litigation group and litigates disputes involving civil rights, employment and education issues.
“My fellow district judges and I are very impressed with Ms. Roberts’ experience as a litigator, mediator, and leader in the legal community,” James R. Sweeney II, chief judge of the district court, said in a press release. “These experiences, along with her energy, enthusiasm, intelligence, and calm demeanor, will serve her well on the federal bench and benefit all of the parties who will appear before her in our court. While filling Judge Dinsmore’s shoes will be no easy task, Ms. Roberts will be a welcome and talented addition to the court family.”
U.S. magistrate judges are appointed by district court judges to serve eight-year terms with the eligibility to be reappointed to successive terms. Magistrate judges are integral in both civil and criminal pretrial proceedings, which includes mediation.
The district has four district judges, three senior judges, six magistrate judges and two part-time magistrate judges.
Roberts’ appointment is dependent upon the completion of required FBI and IRS background checks.
An avid long-distance runner, Roberts has completed a full marathon in all 50 states. In her law firm bio, she says she eats at least one cookie every day.
The Southern District court announced Dinsmore’s retirement in February, issuing a public notice for applications to fill the role. Dinsmore was appointed to the court in 2010 and was reappointed in 2018.
Prior to his service on the bench, Dinsmore practiced at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, where his practice focused on complex commercial disputes and construction litigation matters. He chaired the firm’s Litigation Department Technology Committee during his time there.
At the firm, Dinsmore represented the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in an international arbitration arising out of the Dayton Accords that ended the Balkan war.
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