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Crystal Wildeman was sworn in as magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana at a private ceremony, the court announced Friday.
A formal investiture ceremony will take place at a later date, according to a news release from the Southern District.
Wildeman fills the vacancy created by the recent elevation of Judge Matthew Brookman to district judge of the Indiana Southern District Court.
She will maintain chambers in the court’s Evansville Division and also travel to Indianapolis to hear cases.
Before administering the oath, Chief Judge Tanya Pratt said, “Crystal’s strong work ethic, diligence and passion for upholding the law and ensuring access to justice will serve her well as she embarks on her judicial career. We are excited for her to join our court because we know that she will bring those wonderful qualities with her to the bench. And we are confident she will be an excellent Magistrate Judge.”
“I wouldn’t have dreamed I would be standing here today as a magistrate judge when I graduated law school. And really, until a year ago, this wasn’t part of my plan. But I was led here and I’m so grateful that I have been. I haven’t even started yet and I already feel blessed beyond measure in this job. I’m rested and I’m ready, and I couldn’t be more excited to join you,” Wildeman said.
Born in Evansville, Wildeman is a 2003 graduate of Indiana University in Bloomington, where she received psychology and criminal justice degrees.
In May 2006, Wildeman earned her law degree from DePaul College of Law in Chicago.
While in law school, Wildeman earned the Best Brief Award in DePaul’s Moot Court Competition and then was elected to serve as the chief justice of the Moot Court Society.
She also served as the case notes editor for the DePaul College of Law Health Care Law Journal and worked as a summer associate/711 licensed student-attorney with the Chicago Transit Authority.
Following law school, Wildeman began her legal career in Evansville at Kahn Dees Donovan & Kahn LLP, where she remained until 2014.
Wildeman then joined the Evansville office of Wooden McLaughlin LLP, which later merged into Dinsmore & Shohl LLP.
In 2022, Wildeman joined Barber & Bauer LLP as partner, where she represented businesses and individuals in litigation in a variety of areas including employment, contract, personal injury and insurance.
Wildeman also has extensive mediation experience and is a certified, trained mediator.
Magistrate judges are appointed by district court judges for a term of eight years and are eligible for reappointment to successive terms.
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