Off the Record with James Bell

Fourth of July Message from Off the Record

Winfield Ong is an experienced federal litigator and the former criminal chief for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Indiana. In addition, he is a President Obama judicial nominee for the U.S. District Court, and he is a current white collar criminal defense attorney at Dentons Bingham Greenebaum. During this interview, the main topics of discussion were Winfield's journey through the judicial nomination process and Attorney General Bill Barr's decision to move to dismiss the criminal case against General Michael Flynn. Since then, unrest has swept the nation as a result of the killing of George Floyd. Though this interview took place several days beforehand and the topics seemed unrelated at first, many themes included are relevant and valuable to the situation we find ourselves in today: the rule of law, the power and discretion that lawyers have, and how that power should never be abused. 

Winfield Ong: Judicial Nominations, Michael Flynn and the Rule of Law

The death of George Floyd has sparked outrage across the country and brought the many issues surrounding systemic racism to the forefront. Our community is no exception. Difficult conversations are starting to happen, and amid the protests, anger and tears, many have questioned what they can do to help. In this special episode of Off the Record, host James Bell talks with two Indiana bar leaders, Michael Tolbert and Jimmie McMillian, who provide their perspective on the situation. Michael Tolbert is an attorney in the Gary, Indiana firm of Tolbert & Tolbert, where he is a respected litigator and frequent presenter. He is a two-time president of the James C. Kimbrough Minority Bar Association, past president of the Porter County Chapter of the American Inns of Court, President of the Lake County Bar Association and is currently President-Elect of the Indiana State Bar Association, where he will serve as president in 2021.Jimmie McMillian is a former law clerk to Justice Frank Sullivan and a former partner in an AmLaw 100 law firm and is currently the senior corporate counsel for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He is chair of the board of the Marion County Public Defender Association and is on the board of the Indianapolis Urban League. Jimmie is a past president of the Marion County Bar Association and is currently serving as President-Elect of the Indianapolis Bar, where he will serve as president in 2021.

George Floyd: Race, Power & Our Community (with Jimmie McMillian and Michael Tolbert)

Roger Penske assumed ownership of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in January 2020. Just three months later, the greatest spectacle in racing was rescheduled from May to August amid this unprecedented public health crisis. Writer Tom Chiarella talks about a recent interview with Penske, plus his own personal experience with the COVID-19 pandemic during this episode of Off the Record with James Bell.

Podcasting from Isolation: Writer Tom Chiarella on Roger Penske, IMS & COVID-19

Before he took his seat on the Marion Superior Court bench, Judge PJ Dietrick had a decidedly different career as a minor league baseball player. Drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 6th round of the 1984 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, Judge Dietrick made his way from Medford, Oregon to Tacoma, Washington (with a few stops along the way) as he chased his baseball dreams. Join us as host James Bell chats with Judge Dietrick about his past baseball life, including run-ins with stars like Mark McGwire.

Off the Record: Podcasting from Isolation (And Talking Baseball) with Judge PJ Dietrick

Thanks to the wonders of technology, we're bringing you new episodes of Off the Record with James Bell during this time of isolation and social distancing. In this episode, James talks with Judge Marc Rothenberg of Marion Superior Court.

Off the Record: Podcasting from Isolation with Judge Marc Rothenberg

Enjoy one of our favorite episodes of Off the Record, where host James Bell talks with Monica Foster of the Indiana Federal Community Defenders about arguing at the U.S. Supreme Court, her experience defending 15-year-old death who was sentenced to death, the Buffalo Bills and more. Plus, enjoy a brand new intro that explores a question every attorney has pondered: would a Hufflepuff make a good lawyer? 

Best of Off the Record: Monica Foster

One writer got a chance to follow attorney to the stars and Harvard Law School Professor Alan Dershowitz as he prepared for his historic argument against the impeachment of President Donald Trump. That writer was Tom Chiarella, Esquire columnist and Professor Emeritus at DePauw University. In addition to Dershowitz, Chiarella has interviewed and profiled celebrities like Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman, James Franco, Clive Owen, Kate Beckinsale, Ryan Gosling, Guy Ritchie, Halle Berry, Ben Affleck, Billy Crudup, Ashton Kutcher and Bill Clinton. Join us for this episode of Off the Record with James Bell where we talk to Tom about the experience of shadowing Dershowitz, how interviewing celebrities relates to the practice of law and the answer every Colts fan wants to know: who's a nicer guy, Tom Brady or Peyton Manning?

Impeachment: Hanging with Dershowitz. An Interview with Esquire Writer Tom Chiarella

Join us as we chat with America's favorite law school dean, Dean Andy Klein of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Dean Klein shares his path to academia, what's happening in law schools these days and his plans for the future after he steps down as dean later this year. 

Off the Record with James Bell: Dean Andy Klein, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law

It's a new decade for the IndyBar, and leading the association into it is President Andy Campbell, a partner at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath. In this episode, we talk law firm mergers, political science and life at the University of Montana, work/life balance, what's next for the IndyBar and more.

Off the Record with James Bell: Andy Campbell, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

Tune in for important IndyBar updates and musings on celebrities and second chances. 

A Message from the Host

A number of notable things happened in 1948. One of them? Indianapolis lawyer Philip "Skip" Kappes passed the bar and became a practicing attorney. Since then, he's lived through countless changes in the profession and in our community. Some things have stayed the same, though. Join us on this episode as we chat with one of Indy's legal legends. 

Off the Record: Philip "Skip" Kappes, Lewis Kappes PC

Female representation on the bench appears to be at an all-time high in Indiana, with women leading the Indiana Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, the  U.S. Bankrupcty Court for the Southern District of Indiana, the Indiana Court of Appeals, the Marion Superior Court and more. But where do we stand with women in private practice?Frost Brown Todd Indianapolis office Member in Charge Heather Wilson joined us to talk about leading a large law firm in Indianapolis and about diversity trends she's seeing in private practice.

Off the Record: Heather Wilson, Frost Brown Todd

Attendees at the 2019 IndyBar Bench Bar Conference were treated to several sessions presented by one of the nation's foremost experts on cross examination, civil litigation and criminal defense, Larry Pozner. After wrapping up his presentations, Pozner was kind enough to sit down with Off the Record host James Bell to talk about growing up in Indianapolis, the stress of trial work, criminal practice versus civil practice and much more.Pozner is the author of "Cross-Examination: Science and Techniques" and focuses his practice on complex civil and criminal litigation—as well as the lecture circuit. He is litigation counsel for the Denver Broncos Football Club.In the area of complex commercial litigation, Pozner represents both plaintiffs and defendants in cases involving fraud (including healthcare fraud), professional malpractice, breach of contract, litigation against trustees, environmental matters, theft of trade secrets, and copyright and trademark infringement.In the criminal arena, Pozner began his career as a public defender—and continues his high profile criminal defense work as a private practitioner. In 1998, he was elected president of the 10,000 member National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Off the Record: Larry Pozner

First Monday is coming, and you know what that means...all eyes will be on the United States Supreme Court as it opens its new term.Brian Paul of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP joins us on this episode of Off the Record with James Bell to provide an update on where the court is and a preview of where it might go in this term. Plus, hear a moving tribute to former Dean Norman Lefstein of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, who passed away on August 29, 2019. To subscribe to updates on the U.S. Supreme Court from Brian and the team at Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, click here. 

Off the Record: Brian Paul, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

Listen to stories from judges, lawyers and more that go beyond the courtroom on Off the Record with James Bell. Off the Record is a legal podcast from the Indianapolis Bar Association.

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Off the Record with James Bell

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