Magistrate Judge Debra McVicker Lynch to Retire In October, Creating a U.S Magistrate Judge Vacancy

After more than 13 years of dedicated service to the federal judiciary, United States Magistrate Judge Debra McVicker Lynch has notified Chief District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana of her intention to retire on October 31, 2022. Judge Lynch was appointed to the court on October 24, 2008, and she was reappointed in 2016.

Chief Judge Pratt remarked, “On behalf of my fellow judicial officers, I offer warm congratulations and deep gratitude to Magistrate Judge Lynch for her long service to the Southern District of Indiana. She has served our court tirelessly and with immense wisdom, dedication, and compassion. Judge Lynch will be greatly missed, and she departs the bench with our hope that this next chapter of her life is as rich and fulfilling as she deserves.”

Before joining the Southern District of Indiana as magistrate judge in 2008, Judge Lynch practiced with the law firm Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP (formerly Sommer Barnard) from 1988 to the time of her appointment. Her practice included litigation of contract disputes, business dissolutions, antitrust matters, securities fraud cases, professional malpractice actions, and non-competition and trade secret matters. Judge Lynch served as a law clerk to District Judge Sarah Evans Barker from 1986 – 1988. She was a high school English teacher for several years before entering law school.

Judge Lynch is a summa cum laude graduate of the Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Indiana Law Review, and a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Miami (Florida). Judge Lynch was formerly an adjunct professor at the McKinney School of Law, where she taught the Complex Litigation course. She served as Special Master for Judge Barker in the Bridgestone/Firestone Tires Products Liability Multidistrict Litigation from 2000 to 2004. She has been an active member of the Local Rules Advisory Committee for the Southern District of Indiana since its inception. Judge Lynch is also a member of the Indianapolis Bar Association, having served two terms as a board member, and the Seventh Circuit Bar Association. She was a Master Member of the Indianapolis American Inn of Court for many years.

United States Magistrate Judges are appointed by the District Judges of the United States District Court for terms of eight years and are eligible for reappointment to successive terms. A Public Notice seeking applicants to fill the vacancy that will be created by Judge Lynch’s departure has been posted on the Southern District of Indiana’s website, and can be accessed here: https://www.insd.uscourts.gov/us-magistrate-judge-vacancy.

In conjunction with the Magistrate Judge appointment process, United States Magistrate Judge Mario Garcia and Clerk of Court Roger A. G. Sharpe will host a webinar, “Understanding the Position of a U.S. Magistrate Judge,” on Friday, February 11, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. (ET). During this virtual event, Judge Garcia will provide an overview of the day-to-day responsibilities of a Magistrate Judge. Judge Garcia and Clerk Sharpe will also provide information and insights on the process to become a Magistrate Judge and answer questions from participants. If interested, please sign up for this webinar by sending an email to [email protected]. Please provide your name, email address, and a phone number to receive access to the webinar link (which will be held via Zoom). The webinar will also be recorded and posted to the Court’s website. Questions can be directed to Clerk of Court Roger A. G. Sharpe at (317) 229-3700.