The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana hosts a discussion focusing on a critical but overlooked facet of the justice system: the transformative power of inclusivity in helping formerly incarcerated individuals rebuild their lives.
Slated for Dec. 3, the event, titled “From Inmate to Advocate: The Importance of Inclusivity in Successful Reentry,” features two men who have navigated the arduous journey from prison cells to legal careers. The conversation aims to shed light on the systemic barriers and necessary support structures that determine successful reintegration into society.
Moderating the panel is the court’s supervisory Staff Attorney Anne Kaiser. She’ll guide a discussion with Mark Nicholson and John Vance, both of whom were formerly incarcerated in the Indiana Department of Corrections. Their unique trajectories offer insight into redemption and the benefits of providing pathways to education and employment.
Nicholson isnow the owner and CEO of the Law Office of Mark Nicholson where he practices criminal law, civil rights, personal injury and family law. His commitment to the legal field extends beyond his practice; he serves as an adjunct professor at his alma mater, the Indiana University McKinney School of Law, teaching a course on prison law. A veteran, Nicholson also sits on the Board of Directors for Helping Veterans and Families and is a frequent public speaker on issues of civil rights and criminal justice.
His co-panelist, Vance, is the major felony paralegal team lead at the Marion County Public Defender Agency. In this role, Vance supports and trains a team of paralegals while contributing to litigation strategy for major felony cases. Moreover, Vance is a Juris Doctor candidate at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. He has emerged as a vocal advocate, having been published in professional journals and frequently speaking on panels about reentry, juvenile justice, and sentencing reform.
The program explores the panelists’ personal paths to their legal careers, the significant challenges faced by former inmates, and the pivotal role that inclusivity plays in breaking the cycle of recidivism. A key objective is outlining what judges, lawyers and other legal professionals can do to actively help formerly incarcerated individuals find fulfilling and stable roles within the community.
The event opens with introductory remarks by Chief Judge James R. Sweeney II of the Southern District of Indiana and The Hon. Frank Sullivan, Jr., a former Indiana Supreme Court justice now serving as the Bicentennial Professor at the IU McKinney School of Law.
The discussion takes place at 2 p.m. on Dec. 3 in the William E. Steckler Ceremonial Courtroom (202) at the Birch Bayh Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, located at 46 East Ohio Street in Indianapolis.
The event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required. Attendees can participate in person or virtually via Zoom.
The court has announced that one hour of continuing legal education (CLE) credit has been approved for this program, likely attracting a broad audience of legal professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of these critical social issues.
Those interested can reserve a space by registering online here.
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846 or email at noralp@indyrecorder.com. For more news, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver. He is also the owner and founder of Horsemen Sports Media.
