Steve Charles—In November of last year, Indiana Solicitor General Tom Fisher ’91 flew in from Indianapolis to watch mentor and “big brother” Greg Castanias ’87 present oral arguments before the United States Supreme Court.
On March 20, 2006, it was Fisher’s turn before the Justices, representing his state in Hammon v. Indiana, a decision that will have major implications for the prosecution of domestic violence cases in the U.S.
And Greg was there to support him.
“Tom was marvelous in a very difficult argument,” Greg said after watching his friend’s moment on the legal world’s biggest stage. “He took on some rather aggressive questioning from Justice [Antonin] Scalia and completely held his own, debating with Justice Scalia (and other Justices) fine points of constitutional and pre-constitutional history, such as the trial of Sir Walter Raleigh."
Fisher had presented the facts of the case earlier in the year to Wabash students, when he was a member of a panel on government and religion. But on Monday his audience was a bit more daunting—at least to most of us.
“From watching the six advocates in the two cases argued today, no one would have known that this was Tom’s first argument before the Court, because he seemed like he had done this a hundred times," Greg said proudly. “Tom possesses an ease and confidence on his feet that I can only hope I have on my best day.”
Photo: Tom Fisher enjoyed his visit with Wabash students and faculty.
