Profile

George Patton is a partner in the Litigation Group and a former chair of the Appellate Law Group. While practicing law, he taught Appellate Advocacy and Procedure at Indiana University Maurer School of Law – Bloomington for five years, wrote a book on Indiana Appellate Procedure published by West Group, authored a chapter in a book on appellate briefs, and published several law review articles on Indiana appellate procedure. His articles have been cited by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, the Indiana Supreme Court, and the Indiana Court of Appeals. He has worked on cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals, the Indiana Supreme Court, and the Indiana Court of Appeals, resulting in more than 150 published opinions. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a judicial law clerk to former Indiana Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard. He practices from the Washington D.C. office.

Education

Indiana University Maurer School of Law – Bloomington (J.D., cum laude, 1987)
Wabash College (A.B., cum laude, 1984)
University of Aberdeen, Scotland (1982-1983)

Honors / Awards

The Warren E. Burger Society of the National Center for State Courts (2015); Distinguished Service, National Center for State Courts (2009); Washington, D.C. Super Lawyer – Appellate (2007-2022); AV® Peer Review rated by Martindale-Hubbell; Distinguished Service, Council of Appellate Lawyers, American Bar Association (2005); American Academy of Appellate Lawyers Fellow (2005-2015); Indiana Bar Fellow; Indianapolis Bar Fellow; The Best Lawyers in America® Appellate Practice (2011-2024)

Representative Matters

George has worked on 13 cases in the United States Supreme Court, 25 opinions in the United States Court of Appeals with 15 oral arguments, 33 opinions of the Indiana Supreme Court with 12 oral arguments, 83 published opinions of the Indiana Court of Appeals with 28 oral arguments.

The following are some representative cases:

  • Represented the Conference of Chief Justices, consisting of all state supreme court Chief Justices from across the United States, as an amicus curiae in the U.S. Supreme Court and D.C. Circuit in cases involving the constitutionality of the Judicial Code of Conduct and federal banking disclosure requirements.
  • Represented Indiana and Kansas Judicial Commission before Seventh and Tenth Circuits in cases involving the constitutionality of the Judicial Code of Conduct.
  • Represented Fortune 100 military defense contractor before the Indiana Supreme Court in a multi-million dollar contract overrun dispute concerning the next generation stealth fighter.
  • Represented Fortune 100 retailer in negligence action before Indiana Supreme Court.

Appearances / Publications

Speaker: George has spoken to numerous civic, professional, legal and judicial groups about topics such as constitutional law and appellate practice. He has been active in the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum as well as bar association seminars and conferences.

Appellate Judges Education Institute (2015)

“An Address to the Electors of the State:  The 1851 Indiana Constitution and How Constitutional Changes Continues to Shape State Jurisprudence” (Indiana Supreme Court 2015) (based on 111 Indiana Magazine of History 96); “The Aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court case, Republican Party of Minnesota vs. White” (Harvard Law School, 2012); “Election of State Judges” (The George Washington University Law School, 2011); “Judicial Disqualification One Year After Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal” (American Judicature Society, 2010); “Restrictions on Judicial Political Conduct Eight Years After Republican Party of Minnesota v. White” (American Judicature Society, 2010); “Recusals: Where Art Thou?” (Conference of Chief Justices, 2010); “Judicial Election, Finance and Recusal Issues” (American Academy of Appellate Lawyers Fall Meeting, October 2009); “Merit Selection – Fresh Thinking About the Ideal System” (Justice-At-Stake Conference, Washington, D.C., July 2009); “What Price Justice? Judicial Independence Forum,” (National Constitution Center, Bernard G. Segal Institute for Appellate Advocacy, Philadelphia, May 2007); “Appellate Skills Institute,” (ICLEF, November 2006); “Developing Appellate Skills,” (ICLEF, November 2003); “Appellate Practice,” (ICLEF, May 2000); “Law School for Journalists,” (Indiana Supreme Court, 1999); “Appellate Practice,” (ICLEF, November 1998); “When Government Goes Private,” (Society of Professional Journalists Freedom of Information Conference, First Amendment Center, Vanderbilt University, November 1998); “Appellate Practice Institute,” (ICLEF, November 1997) (chair); “Appellate Practice,” (ICLEF, October 1996)

Author: Mr. Patton has authored a book, a chapter on appellate briefs, as well as several law journal articles in legal and professional publications.

VOLUME 24, Indiana Practice – Appellate Procedure, (3d ed., West Publishing Co., 2001 & 2015 Supp.); “An Address to the Electors of the State:  The 1851 Indiana Constitution and How Constitutional Changes Continues to Shape State Jurisprudence” (based on 111 Indiana Magazine of History 96); “Justice Amos W. Jackson, the 89th Judge of the Indiana Supreme Court,” Justices of the Indiana Supreme Court (Indiana Historical Society Press, 2011); “Political Pragmatism and Commons Sense: Leading Cases of the Indiana Supreme Court,” The History of Indiana Law (Ohio University Press, 2006) (edited by David J. Bodenhamer and Hon. Randall T. Shepard); “Recent Developments in Indiana Appellate Procedure: New Rules, A Constitutional Amendment and a Proposal,” (33 IND. L. REV 1275, 2000); “Appellate Rules Proposal Before Rules Committee,” Res Gestae (April 1999); “Appellate Civil Case Update,” Res Gestae (quarterly from September 1998); “Survey Designed for Strong Response,” The Indiana Lawyer (July, 1998); “Input Sought on Merit Selection of Trial Court Judges,” Res Gestae (May 1998); “The Brief, The Attorney’s Guide to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit” (1996); “1993 Developments in Indiana Appellate Procedure: Changes in Original Actions, Rehearing and Transfer,” (27 IND. L. REV 843, 1994); “1992 Developments in Indiana Appellate Procedure: Of Timely Praecipes, Interlocutory Appeals and Civility,” (26 IND. L. REV 799, 1993); “Recent Developments in Indiana Appellate Procedure: Reforming the Procedural Path to the Indiana Supreme Court,” (25 IND. L. REV 1105, 1992)

Appointments / Memberships

The Warren E. Burger Society of the National Center for State Courts (2015); American Bar Association (former member; chair, Council of Appellate Lawyers, Appellate Judges Conference, Judicial Division, 2001-2002); Seventh Circuit Bar Association; Indiana State Bar Association (chair, Appellate Rules Project, 1997-2001; chair, Appellate Practice Section 1996-1997; chair, Appellate Issues Study Committee 1995-1996); Maryland State Bar Association; Former Member, Indianapolis Bar Association (co-chair, Bench-Bar Conference, 2000); Bar Association of the District of Columbia, (Appellate Courts Committee 2000-2004); Master, Edward Coke Appellate Inn of Court, Washington D.C., (treasurer, 2002-2005); Federal Bar Association; National Ad Hoc Committee on Judicial Election Law for the National Center for State Courts (co-chair, 2002-2004); Adjunct Assistant Professor of Law, Appellate Advocacy and Procedure: Indiana University School of Law, Bloomington (1990-1994); Indiana State Board of Nursing (1991-1998); Board Member, University of Aberdeen Foundation, Inc. f/k/a USA Development Trust, University of Aberdeen, Scotland (2008-present)

Admissions

District of Columbia, Indiana, Maryland, Supreme Court of the United States, United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, United States District Court for the District of Columbia, United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana