Remembering U.S. Magistrate Judge Denise K. LaRue
A Trailblazer in the Indianapolis Legal Community and on the Federal Bench
A recent blog post highlighted the increasing presence of Black female judges in the United States, tracing the progress from Judge Jane Bolin, the first Black woman to serve as a judge in the country (on New York’s Domestic Relations Court), to Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who made history as the first Black woman on the United States Supreme Court. President Joseph R. Biden appointed more women to the judiciary than any previous president, with a particular emphasis on appointing minority women. He appointed more Black women (35), Hispanic women (19), and Asian women (17) to the federal judiciary than any other US president.
During Barack Obama’s presidency, another groundbreaking Black woman joined the federal bench. On May 11, 2011, Denise K. LaRue was appointed to fill a newly created magistrate judgeship for the Southern District of Indiana. In Indianapolis, Judge LaRue was highly respected in the legal community. After graduating cum laude from Indiana University’s School of Law, she worked as a staff attorney at the Indiana Civil Rights Commission and later entered private practice at the firm that became Haskin & LaRue. Upon becoming a partner, Judge LaRue was one of the first Black women to be named a partner in a law firm in central Indiana.
Throughout her private practice, Judge LaRue gained extensive experience litigating employment-related matters, including discrimination and retaliation claims under Title VII; the Americans with Disabilities Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act; and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. She also handled cases involving various constitutional violations related to due process, free speech, and political association, as well as wage and hour violations and claims under multiple federal labor acts. Judge LaRue was actively involved in the broader legal community, serving on the Board of the Indiana Minority Health Coalition and as a Master with the Indianapolis American Inn of Court.
A former Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court noted that Judge LaRue possessed the intellectual firepower necessary for individuals responsible for making judicial decisions and emphasized her careful attention to the needs of the people appearing before her. Her colleagues on the bench in the Southern District of Indiana expressed admiration for her compassionate understanding of litigants’ challenges and her unparalleled ability to address their concerns. Judge LaRue exemplified a blend of legal expertise, impartiality, and strong character without any pretension.
As one of Judge LaRue's first hires after her appointment, I had the opportunity to observe how she adeptly managed the challenges of her new role. A significant hurdle for new judges includes developing a comprehensive understanding of the Constitution, federal statutes, applicable state statutes, relevant case law, procedural rules, and much more. Judge LaRue quickly absorbed new information and managed a growing caseload with ease. In her role as a magistrate judge, her key responsibilities included supervising discovery and serving as a mediator in civil cases. In every instance, Judge LaRue approached these tasks fairly and efficiently, always listening attentively, communicating clearly, and maintaining her composure.
Judge LaRue passed away suddenly on August 2, 2017, leaving a considerable void in both the local legal community and the federal judiciary. Judge LaRue’s legacy is one of compassionate insight as a master mediator and reconciler, paired with keen intellect and emotional intelligence. She excelled as a member of the federal bench, as she did in all aspects of her life. Qualities such as grace, kindness, wisdom, and integrity flowed abundantly through Denise LaRue—qualities that are in limited supply today.