Jimmie L. McMillian is a partner in Barnes & Thornburg LLP's Indianapolis office and a member of the Litigation Department. He represents clients on a variety of legal matters, including products liability claims, personal injury lawsuits, contract disputes and criminal defense matters. In March 2010, Mr. McMillian tried a case for a commercial construction client, who after a bench trial obtained a $3.8 million judgment in federal district court related to a general contractor's failure to comply with the terms of a construction agreement.
Mr. McMillian received his B.A. in political science in 1998 from Indiana University-Bloomington, and his J.D. in 2002 from the Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis. As a law student, Mr. McMillian served as a barrister on the Moot Court Team and was a member of the Trial Advocacy Team. He was awarded the 2001 F. Emerson Boyd Trial Advocacy Scholarship, the 2001-2002 Student Bar Association Student Speaker Award, and the 2002 John Morton Finney Award for Promoting Diversity. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis Alumni Association and serves as the President of the Neal Marshall Alumni Association. From 2002 to 2004, he served as law clerk to the Honorable Justice Frank Sullivan, Jr., of the Indiana Supreme Court.
Mr. McMillian is a member of the Indiana Bar Association, the Indianapolis Bar Association (IBA), and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He serves as an instructor for the IBA Bar Review Course and has taught Criminal Law and the Multistate Performance Test to aspiring attorneys. A Lifetime Member of the Marion County Bar Association, he has served as the organization's President. In 2007, National Bar Association President Vanita Banks appointed Mr. McMillian to be her Deputy Chief of Staff. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Reach for Youth, Inc. and participates in their Teen Court Program, a juvenile diversion program for first-time offenders. In 2005, he received Barnes & Thornburg's Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award and the Honorable Carr L. Darden Leadership Award. In 2006, he was recognized by The Indiana Lawyer as one of 10 "Up and Coming Lawyers" and received the publication's Leadership in Law Award.
In 2007, Mr. McMillian received the Indianapolis Urban League's NEXT Award, was honored with the Mayor's Community Service Award from former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, and graduated from the IBA's Bar Leader Series. In 2008, he was named to the Indianapolis Business Journal's "Forty under 40" list and is also included in the Sixth Edition of Who's Who in Black Indianapolis. Mr. McMillian was also accepted into the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series Class XXXIII, named the recipient of the United Way Minority Volunteer Recognition Award, and awarded the Indiana University Charlie Nelms Alumni Award for his commitment to diversity and advocacy on behalf of the disenfranchised.
Since 2004, Mr. McMillian has been a featured speaker and annual participant with the 100 Black Men/Jack and Jill Beautillion Millitaire Program, where he has addressed issues such as domestic violence, date rape and drunk driving. During the interactive presentations, he has encouraged over 400 young African-American males to make the right decisions.
Since 2005, Mr. McMillian has been a featured speaker and annual participant with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's O.K. Program at Arlington High School. His inspirational lectures have captured the attention of the at-risk African American males who participate in the program and inspired them to improve their lives.
Mr. McMillian is admitted to practice law in the state of Indiana and the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana. Mr. McMillian is also a certified civil mediator in the state of Indiana. He currently serves as chairman of the Marion County Public Defender's Agency Board of Directors.
Publications
· Indianapolis Star - Second chances lit path to lawyer's success
Events
11/20/2009, Attorney Presentation - 2009 Diversity in Practice breakout session
06/14/2009, Attorney Presentation - Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum (ICLEF) Products Liability CLE
03/19/2009, Attorney Presentation - Minority Corporate Counsel Association 8th Annual CLE Expo
12/12/2008, ACCumulate 2008: A Winter Forum for In-House Counsel
12/12/2008, Attorney Presentation - ACCumulate 2008 Winter Conference
07/28/2008, Maley, Rosiello and McMillian Lecture at the 2008 IBA Bar Review
09/27/2007, Barnes & Thornburg Attorneys to Present at Diversity Conference
11/11/2006, Jimmie McMillian Gives Presentation at Minority Event at Indiana University School of Law
01/12/2006, Jimmie McMillian Presents at Indianapolis Bar Association's Criminal Law Lecture