Tanya Walton Pratt officially became Indiana’s first African-American Federal Judge Friday in an official Investiture Ceremony held in the Ceremonial Courtroom at the Federal Courthouse downtown. All five Judges of the District Court for the Southern District of Indiana presided over the ceremony and saluted Judge Pratt. Longtime Federal Judge Sarah Evans Barker, the first woman appointed to the Federal courts here, remarked that Judge Pratt is sitting in the seat once held by Judge S. Hugh Dillon, the man who desegregated Indianapolis’ schools. Chief Judge Richard Young administered the oath to Judge Pratt, while her husband Marcel held their family Bible. Indiana Senator Evan Bayh who made the historic recommendation to President Barack Obama spoke as did Congressman Andre Carson, Judge Pratt’s daughter Lena, a student at Howard University along with representatives of state and local courts. The courtroom was standing room only, with an overflow crowd of Black and white attorneys, elected officials, community and religious leaders and friends of Judge Pratt. Afternoons with Amos Host Amos Brown served as Master of Ceremonies for the historic occasion. See some of Amos’ photos from the event.
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