We lost an awfully good jurist today. Judge Alan Sharp, District Court Judge for the United States District Court, Northern District of Indiana died at his home today. He had been battling illness for quite some time and battling it pretty hard from what I could tell. I had the opportunity to conduct three oral arguments in front of Judge Sharp this year. He was still asking shrewd questions and issuing strongly researched opinions — the most recent of which, in my case, was issued about 2 weeks ago.
He started practicing law in Williamsport, Indiana in 1957, served on the Indiana Appeals Court from 1969 to 1973 and had served as a federal district court judge from 1973. My understanding is that his claim to fame as a practicing attorney was arguing an attorney’s fee claim under the Social Security Act all the way to the United States Supreme Court and winning on a 5-3 decision in 1968.
Judge Sharp was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Brown County, Indiana. He earned his undergraduate degree from George Washington University in 1954, his law degree from Indiana University in 1957, and his Masters Degree in History from Butler University in 1986. He was awarded an honorary doctor of civil laws by Indiana State University. Judge Sharp practiced law in Williamsport, Indiana from 1957 to 1968 before serving on the Indiana Appellate Court from 1969 to 1973. He served in the United States Air Force Reserve from 1957 to 1984, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Judge Sharp was an avid student of history as well as a judge. He taught at Butler University, Indiana University at South Bend, and Milligan College in Milligan, Tennessee. He also wrote a variety of articles on law and history that were published in books and magazines.
Rest in peace, Judge Sharp. We’ll miss you.
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