Catherine Nestrick

The Indiana Supreme Court has appointed Catherine A. Nestrick of Evansville and Tony Walker of Gary to the Disciplinary Commission.  The Court has also reappointed Anthony Prather of Indianapolis to the Commission.  Ms. Nestrick and Mr. Walker replace attorneys Diana L. Bender of Evansville and Robert L. Lewis of Gary.  The Court extends its thanks to both Ms. Bender and Mr. Lewis for their commitment to the Commission.  Their terms of service expired June 30, 2009. 

Catherine Nestrick will serve a five-year term and is expected to serve on the Commission until June 2014 or until a successor is appointed.  She is a partner with the Evansville law firm of Bamberger, Foreman, Oswald and Hahn, LLP.  She concentrates her practice in commercial litigation, and is the co-chair of her firm’s litigation practice group.  Ms. Nestrick is also the current president of the Legal Aid Society of Evansville, and a member of the Indiana Pro Bono Commission.  She is the immediate past president of the Evansville Bar Association and a former president of the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Law Library Foundation.  She is a former board member of the Volunteer Lawyer Program of Southwestern Indiana, Inc. and was an Evansville Athena Award Nominee in 2003.  She has received several awards for her pro bono efforts in Southwestern Indiana from the Indiana Bar Foundation, the EBA and the VLP.  Ms. Nestrick is a former adjunct faculty with the University of Southern Indiana, and she is a frequent speaker on business and litigation topics.  Nestrick explained, “I am looking forward to serving the attorneys and citizens of Indiana in this important role.”

Tony Walker

Tony Walker will also serve a five-year term and is expected to serve on the Commission until June 2014 or until a successor is appointed.  He is the Managing Attorney of The Walker Law Group, P.C.  Attorney Walker specializes in representing churches, schools, and government agencies.  He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where he received a degree in Social Thought and Political Economy.  He also studied political science at Clark Atlanta University and earned his law degree from DePaul University in Chicago.  Attorney Walker clerked for the Honorable Robert D. Rucker of the Indiana Supreme Court when he was an Indiana Court of Appeals Judge.  Mr. Walker also served as Legislative Counsel to the late Congresswoman Julia Carson.  Attorney Walker presently serves as the Executive Producer of several radio programs airing on Merrillville’s WLTH.  He serves on the boards of the Gary Public Library, KIPP Lead Charter School, and is past chairman of the Urban League of Northwest Indiana.  He is a former member of the Gary Police Foundation and Second Chance Foundation boards.  He is honored to serve on the Commission and said, “Attorneys are keepers of the public trust in our system of government and thus must represent and reflect the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct to assure the public that justice can prevail.  As a profession that largely self-regulates, we need a Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission and I am humbled the Court has trusted me with this responsibility.”

R. Anthony Prather

R. Anthony Prather was first appointed to the Commission in March 2004.  The Court has reappointed him to a five-year term and expects he will remain on the Commission until June 2014 or until a successor is appointed.  He is a partner in the Indianapolis office of Barnes & Thornburg LLP. He represents management interests exclusively in all aspects of labor and employment law and litigation.

Mr. Prather also negotiates executive employment, separation, and non-compete agreements for clients.   He defends management in federal and state courts, before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, the Department of Labor, and the National Labor Relations Board.   Mr. Prather has significant trial experience representing employers in both individual and class action litigation. Prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg, he served as general counsel for Bridgestone/Firestone and Ameritech, where he also tried cases; achieved several reported decisions in district and appellate courts; and also served as a supervisor and trial attorney for the EEOC for three years. Mr. Prather is honored that the Indiana Supreme Court appointed him to a second term, “I appreciate the opportunity to be of service to the Indiana Supreme Court, the bar, and the citizens of the State of Indiana.”

The Indiana Disciplinary Commission also elected new officers at its July meeting.  Corinne Finnerty of North Vernon is the new Chairperson, Fred Austerman of Richmond is Vice-Chair, and reappointed member Tony Prather is Secretary.  Other members of the Commission include Sally Zweig of Indianapolis, Maureen I. Grinsfelder of Fort Wayne, J. Mark Robinson of New Albany, and Anthony M. Zappia of South Bend.

The Indiana Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Commission investigates and prosecutes charges of attorney misconduct. The Disciplinary Commission members are appointed by the Court and include seven lawyers and two non-lawyers. It employs staff to investigate and prosecute cases.  The Indiana Supreme Court has exclusive power to take action against a lawyer's license to practice law.  For more information on the Commission visit courts.in.gov/discipline.