{"id":275,"date":"2008-12-29T15:23:46","date_gmt":"2008-12-29T15:23:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.wabash.edu\/fyi\/2008\/12\/29\/oakes-%e2%80%9986-sworn-in-as-judge\/"},"modified":"2008-12-29T15:23:46","modified_gmt":"2008-12-29T15:23:46","slug":"oakes-86-sworn-in-as-judge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wabash.edu\/fyi\/2008\/12\/29\/oakes-86-sworn-in-as-judge\/","title":{"rendered":"Oakes \u201986 Sworn in as Judge"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jim Amidon<\/em> \u2014 Wabash alumnus Tim Oakes \u201986 has dreamed of becoming a judge for as long as I can remember \u2014 and I\u2019ve known him for more than 25 years.<\/p>\n

His dream became reality \u2014 officially \u2014 on Monday when Oakes was sworn in as Marion County Superior Court Judge at a ceremony held in the Indiana Supreme Court Courtroom attended by hundreds of Tim\u2019s family members, colleagues, and friends.<\/p>\n

It was standing-room-only in the courtroom, while others stood in the doorway as Oakes was sworn in.<\/p>\n

Why such a big deal?<\/p>\n

Because Oakes so badly wanted a post like this and worked so hard to achieve it. Mostly, though, it was hard work and perseverance that led Oakes to the bench.<\/p>\n

To understand why I felt so much pride for Oakes on Monday, you have to understand the person and just how far he\u2019s come. If ever there was a \u201cclassic Wabash success story<\/em>,\u201d put a gold star by this one. But it didn’t come easy.<\/p>\n

\"\"Oakes was a long-shot for career success as a teenager attending Arsenal Tech High School on Indianapolis\u2019 near eastside. His family didn\u2019t have any money and there were few if any intellectual role models for him.<\/p>\n

Even when he graduated third in his class of over 600 students, Oakes had trouble finding a job. Eventually a friend gave him a chance \u2014 to wash dishes \u2014 and he learned about work ethic. And thanks to the kindness of teachers, friends, and family, he would matriculate to Wabash College and even study at Oxford University (helped in large measure by “Dean Moore loans”).<\/p>\n

Tim has attracted people who believe in him throughout his life, and unlike most people I know, he has always<\/em> made the most of every opportunity.<\/p>\n

After graduating from Wabash, he became a Governor\u2019s Fellow for then-Indiana Governor Robert Orr, who found something special in the tall, gangly Wabash political science major. After the yearlong internship, Oakes was hired by Governor Orr to serve as his scheduler, a position that put Oakes into contact with Indiana\u2019s most important and influential people.<\/p>\n

Oakes attended law school \u2014 at night \u2014 and earned his law degree in 1991. For eight years, he practiced in the areas of criminal defense, family law, government affairs, and probate. He was also a part-time public defender with Marion and Shelby counties.<\/p>\n

Not only did he serve on Governor Orr\u2019s staff, he also worked with Indianapolis Mayors Bill Hudnut and Steve Goldsmith (Wabash \u201968).<\/p>\n

He also worked with the Indiana House of Representatives and the Republican Caucus as contract legal counsel from 2001-2004. It was then that he left private practice to become vice president and general counsel for the Indiana Cable Telecommunications Association.<\/p>\n

\"\"The son of working class parents had little trouble moving in any circles, from Indiana\u2019s elite politicians to the most troubled of the state\u2019s citizens. That’s why I think he’ll make a terrific judge.<\/p>\n

So Oakes didn’t want the Investiture Ceremony to be about him; it was to be for all the people who helped him realize his dreams.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am proud and privileged to serve, but this is really your day… Today is all about my teachers,\u201d Oakes said as he introduced two of his IPS grade school teachers who were on hand, as well as his friends and professional colleagues.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday is for my grade school and high school friends\u2026 I know where you came from and I am proud of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also singled out the late Bill Placher, Wabash\u2019s LaFollette Distinguished Professor in the Humanities who died November 30.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday is about Bill Placher, my college professor and religious advisor,\u201d Oakes said with tears in his eyes. \u201cHe welcomed so many young men to college. He brought them through and turned them out as good men. Today is his day.\u201d<\/p>\n

It really was a ceremony all about Oakes\u2019 friends and family \u2014 those who believed in a young man from a rough neighborhood, but with a sharp mind, quick wit, and strong work ethic.<\/p>\n

Mark Massa, who serves as general counsel for Governor Mitch Daniels, was master of ceremonies as Oakes took the oath of office. Oakes\u2019 long-time friend, Devin Anderson, also gave remarks. Both men referenced their pride in Oakes\u2019 path to get to the bench, and the promise he holds as a judge.<\/p>\n

The Honorable Cale J. Bradford, Indiana Court of Appeals Judge, gave Oakes the oath of office, but first offered a few comments about his friend.<\/p>\n

\u201cServing the bench requires patience, kindness, and common sense, and Tim has all of those qualities,\u201d said Judge Bradford.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s one of the smartest people I\u2019ve ever met.\u201d<\/p>\n

As I left the courtroom after the ceremony, Judge Bradford\u2019s comments echoed in my mind. He got it right when he referred to Oakes as patient, kind, smart, and full of common sense. But I\u2019d also add that he\u2019s one of the hardest-working friends I\u2019ll ever have.<\/p>\n

Congratulations, Judge Oakes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Photos: Top \u2014 Oakes thanks his family and friends who were on hand for his Investiture Ceremony. Bottom \u2014 Oakes is congratulated by Wabash senior Brent Kent.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jim Amidon \u2014 Wabash alumnus Tim Oakes \u201986 has dreamed of becoming a judge for as long as I can remember \u2014 and I\u2019ve known him for more than 25 years. His […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"w_featured_image_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wabash.edu\/fyi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/275","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wabash.edu\/fyi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wabash.edu\/fyi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wabash.edu\/fyi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wabash.edu\/fyi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=275"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wabash.edu\/fyi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/275\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wabash.edu\/fyi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wabash.edu\/fyi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wabash.edu\/fyi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}