Internship in the Delaware County Circuit Court No. 1 : an honors thesis (HONRS 499)

Abstract

My Honors Thesis Project was a semester (Fall 2005) internship in the Delaware County Circuit Court No. 1 with Judge Marianne Vorhees (For the record, Judge Vorhees is a graduate of the Ball State Honors College so she is familiar with the HONRS 499 requirement).My internship consisted primarily of legal research and preparing opinions on various legal matters. However, I also performed clerical tasks such as gathering files for upcoming cases and running errands.I expected that I would gain specific legal knowledge and a deeper understanding of the justice system. I did not expect, however, to be at the forefront of a lawsuit to enjoin the City of Muncie from enforcing a local ordinance.In an editorial on December 6th, 2005, The Ball State Daily News noted that, "One voice of opposition has the ability to keep the entire legal system on its toes." While that is certainly a broad statement it is important to note that they were writing this in response to part of my Honors Thesis Project. Most major efforts for change start with one individual, and in this instance I am fortunate enough to be that person. Beyond challenging the City of Muncie to protect the civil rights of students and members of the Muncie community I have very ambitious long-term goals for this project. In completing a semester-long internship with Judge Vorhees I have helped her and her staff in the short-term. However, by setting up a program for future interns, I hope to be able to help the overall community in the future. Delaware County will benefit for years to come by having Ball State students gain the experience and knowledge that I have during the course of this internship. It has the potential to increase the retention of law-school-bound students in Delaware County and increase the talent pool of future lawyers and judges in East Central Indiana. Beyond these benefits, the increased awareness of the justice system and current legal issues by Ball State students may lead to a more effective judicial process due to increased participation by younger members of society.