The Indiana Lawyer Podcast with Maura Johnson

Ken Falk has spent decades defending constitutional rights for clients ranging from the KKK to Planned Parenthood, and he makes no apologies for it. As legal director of the ACLU of Indiana, Falk argues that the identity of the client is never the point. The constitutional question is.Falk traces his path from a senior center in Washington Heights to legal services offices in Muncie and Indianapolis, explaining how those early years handling divorces, evictions, and welfare cases taught him things law school never could. He reflects on a career built around class action litigation, First Amendment battles, and cases involving conditions inside Indiana correctional facilities, including a recent $1.2 million settlement on behalf of prisoners held in cells without functioning lights and with broken windows, and sewage flooding the unit.He also addresses the state of the legal profession directly, warning that the rule of law depends entirely on public respect for the judicial process. Lawyers who undermine that respect, win or lose, do damage that extends far beyond any single case. His advice to young attorneys is blunt: have humility, appreciate your clients, and understand that strengthening the system is the most important thing any lawyer can do, regardless of practice area.Falk argues before the Seventh Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court with the same matter-of-fact approach he brings to this conversation. Whether the topic is transgender health care litigation, drug testing of student athletes, or a Klan march in Goshen, his framework stays consistent. The constitutional right either holds for everyone or it holds for no one.

Ken Nunn, one of Indiana’s most prominent personal injury attorneys, died Dec. 24 at the age of 85. In February, The Indiana Lawyer Podcast sat down with him and asked him to reflect on his decades-long career and his unconventional path to success. In this encore edition of the podcast, Nunn tells of his early struggles, including dropping out of high school, flunking multiple grades, and spending time in jail for theft before turning his life around. Nunn shares the lessons he learned, reflects on the mentors who shaped him and offers advice for young lawyers entering the profession.

Host Maura Johnson talks with Barnes & Thornburg partner and Labor and Employment Department chair John Maley about how the firm’s nationwide labor and employment team serves employers of every size, from small family businesses to large public companies, on issues such as noncompete agreements, litigation, counseling and workplace compliance across federal, state and local laws. Maley explains how his early trial work in employment cases shaped his “bet the company” mindset, how he approaches leading a 100-person department, and why staying nimble amid expanding regulations and fast-paced client demands is essential in labor and employment law. As president of the Indiana State Bar Association, Maley also discusses juggling firm and bar leadership, addressing attorney shortages, defending the independence of lawyers and judges, and promoting the rule of law at events like the bar admission ceremony and Law Day. He shares his focus on collaboration across the bench and bar, the profession’s response to increased scrutiny of law firms, and how innovation and artificial intelligence fit into his goals of sophistication, excellence and service in Indiana’s legal community.

Krieg DeVault Managing Partner Mike Messaglia joins The Indiana Lawyer Podcast to discuss the firm’s recent merger with Fort Wayne-based Rothberg Logan & Warsco. He explains how the deal aligns with Krieg DeVault’s strategic plan for thoughtful, values-driven growth and what it means for Indiana’s legal community. Messaglia also shares insights on firm culture, evaluating potential partners, and how technology and AI are shaping mergers in today’s legal industry.

Ice Miller partner and board member Joshua Christie discusses his upcoming transition to chief managing partner in 2026. He shares insights into the biggest challenges facing law firms today—from talent retention to technology adoption—and how Ice Miller is preparing for the future of the legal profession. Christie also talks about artificial intelligence in law, the attorney shortage in Indiana, and the firm’s approach to growth and culture in the evolving Indianapolis legal market.

In this Constitution Day episode of The Indiana Lawyer Podcast, host Maura Johnson speaks with Sheila Suess Kennedy, professor emeritus at IU Indianapolis, and attorney Jim Bopp Jr. about the constitutional limits of presidential authority. They examine Donald Trump’s executive actions, the separation of powers, judicial decisions, and state control over elections.Sheila Suess Kennedy is a professor emeritus in the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IU Indianapolis. Before entering academia, she practiced real estate, administrative, and business law, served as Indianapolis’ corporation counsel, and ran as the Republican candidate for Indiana’s 11th Congressional District in 1980. She later led the Indiana Civil Liberties Union (ACLU of Indiana) as its executive director, giving her deep experience in constitutional law and civil liberties.James Bopp Jr. is a nationally known attorney specializing in constitutional litigation, particularly election law and campaign finance. He is general counsel for the National Right to Life Committee and has argued multiple cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. Bopp is widely recognized for his expertise in First Amendment and constitutional issues, particularly those shaping national politics and executive power.

Host Maura Johnson talks with Jon Laramore, executive director of Indiana Legal Services, Inc. Laramore explains how the nonprofit provides free civil legal aid to low-income Hoosiers in all 92 counties, handling nearly 16,000 cases annually. From eviction defense and domestic violence cases to outreach partnerships and law school internships, the organization plays a vital role in ensuring access to justice. Laramore also discusses current funding challenges, the impact of federal appropriations, and how volunteers and donors can support ILS’s mission. Subscribe to the Indiana Lawyer today - ⁠TheIndianaLawyer.com/subscribe⁠ Check out our event lineup and register now at ⁠IBJ.com/Register ⁠ Discover which programs are accepting nominations now at ⁠IBJ.com/Nominate⁠

In this episode of The Indiana Lawyer Podcast, host Maura Johnson speaks with Fran Quigley, clinical professor at the IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law and director of the Housing Health and Human Rights Clinic. Quigley shares how he and his law students represent low-income Hoosiers facing eviction and the systemic challenges that drive Indiana’s high eviction rates. He also discusses his new book, "Lessons from Eviction Court: How We Fix Our Housing Crisis." Subscribe to the Indiana Lawyer today - ⁠TheIndianaLawyer.com/subscribe⁠ Check out our event lineup and register now at ⁠IBJ.com/Register ⁠ Discover which programs are accepting nominations now at ⁠IBJ.com/Nominate⁠