Kathy Osborn Seeking to Become First Female Lawyer on Judicial Commission

Kathy L. Osborn of Baker & Daniels told Indiana Lawyer that the selection for the Indiana Judicial Qualifications Commission and Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission has often been cast as "plaintiff's versus defense bar races" and that has disenfranchised a large portion of the practicing bar.

In the publication's story, "5 Vie for Spot on Judicial Commission," Osborn also emphasized that women make up more than 50 percent of the bar, but no female lawyer has ever been on the commission since it was created in 1970. Women have been on the commission in the past and there's one currently, but all have been non-attorneys chosen by the governor, Indiana Lawyer reported.

"The disappointing fact that Indiana only ever has had one female Supreme Court justice, and currently has none, is an historical one that goes to the cumulative decisions that have been made over nearly two centuries," Osborn told Indiana Lawyer, noting that Boone Circuit Judge Steven David's recent appointment to the high court isn't to blame. "I am interested in serving on the Judicial Nominating Commission in part because I believe the fact that there has never been a female attorney on that commission could be one factor of many that has impacted historical nominating and appointment decisions."

Osborn, who is one of five candidates to be the 2^nd judicial district's attorney representative on the commission, has been practicing since 2000, the story reported. She handles commercial, antitrust and appellate litigation. Osborn also chairs the Indianapolis Bar Association Appellate Practice Section.

On October 12, ballots and biographies will be mailed to the homes of more than 7,000 attorneys in 19 central Indiana counties, and attorneys must return the ballots by 4 p.m. November 10, according to the Indiana Lawyer story. The winner will join the commission in January 2011.