DeLaneys honored for achievements, contributions

MOOT COURT ROOM NAMING HONORS DELANEYS’ ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROFESSION

EMMA STRENSKI, JD/MPA ’22, ANN DELANEY, ’77, AND KATHLEEN DELANEY, ’95: THREE GENERATIONS OF INDIANA LAW WOMEN, THE FIRST IN THE SCHOOL’S HISTORY.

DEAN PARRISH, DEVIN DUNKLEY, ’22, SHERMAN MINTON MOOT COURT COMPETITION EXECUTIVE COMPETITION COORDINATOR, ANN DELANEY, KATHLEEN DELANEY, HON. LORETTA H. RUSH, ’83, AND PROF. LAUREN ROBEL, ’83, DELIVERED REMARKS AT THE DEDICATION.

KATHLEEN AND ANN DELANEY DESCRIBED OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN TO BECOME INVOLVED IN LITIGATION AND APPELLATE WORK AND HOPED THAT THEIR GIFT WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO SO. When Dean Parrish approached Ann DeLaney, ’77, and her daughter, Kathleen, ’95, about a gift to the school to support trial and appellate competitions, they were intrigued. Linking these competitions with the names of two experienced litigators only heightened their enthusiasm.

“I have always been a strong proponent of the Law School,” Kathleen told ergo in June 2020, “and I believe in philanthropy involving women. Although there are more of us than there used to be, female litigators are still less predominant in our profession. This gift helps fill the gap by encouraging women to participate in moot court and related competitions.”

Ann agreed. “It’s so important for our profession to have women litigators because they are more sympathetic to their clients’ needs in some cases,” she observed. “And trial and appellate skills are worthwhile even if you don’t become a litigator.”

Kathleen and Ann founded DeLaney & DeLaney LLC in 2002, a boutique firm in Indianapolis that handles civil litigation, contract negotiation, and employmentrelated matters. Both women have played leadership roles in the Law School for many years. Ann served as president of the board of visitors and endowed a need-based scholarship for students. She is a member of the Academy of Law Alumni Fellows. Kathleen served on the alumni board for six years and joined the board of visitors in 2019.

“Given their interest and experience in litigation, naming the Moot Court Room in the DeLaneys’ honor is a perfect tribute,” said Dean Parrish. “We are extremely grateful for their support, not only financially, but also as volunteers.”

Kathleen’s daughter, Emma DeLaney Strenski, will receive a JD/MA from the Law School in 2022, resulting in the first time that three generations of women from the same family have earned a degree from Indiana Law. Kathleen’s brother, Tim DeLaney, ’96, is also an alumnus.

In addition to the honorees, speakers at the dedication ceremony included Dean Parrish who also delivered a message from IU Bloomington Interim Provost John S. Applegate, Hon. Loretta Rush, ’83, Chief Justice of Indiana; Lauren K. Robel, ’83, Val Nolan Professor of Law and IU Bloomington provost from 2012–2021; and Devin Dunkley, ’22, executive competition coordinator, Sherman Minton Moot Court Competition.