For most convicted felons returning to society, a simple desire to avoid recidivism isn't enough. That goal must be supported by inclusivity and accessibility to education, employment, housing, and social support services – all of which are crucial for a former inmate's successful reentry to society.
On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 2:00 pm, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana will host a conversation with two men who have experienced first-hand the importance of inclusivity and accessibility for formerly incarcerated individuals. Anne Kaiser, the court's supervisory Staff Attorney, will moderate a discussion with Mark Nicholson and John Vance, former Indiana Department of Correction inmates who have transitioned from incarceration to careers in the law. The event will take place in the William E. Steckler Ceremonial Courtroom (202) at the Birch Bayh Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 46 East Ohio Street, Indianapolis.
Mr. Nicholson is the owner and CEO of the Law Office of Mark Nicholson, where he specializes in criminal law, civil rights, personal injury, and family law. He is an adjunct professor at his alma mater, the Indiana University McKinney School of Law, where he teaches a course on prison law. A veteran, Mr. Nicholson serves on the Board of Directors for Helping Veterans and Families. He is a frequent public speaker, having presented on such topics as civil rights, prison, criminal justice, and the death penalty. Before opening his own law office, Mr. Nicholson was a law clerk and an attorney at the Public Defender of Indiana and an assistant supervisor at the Marion County Public Defender Agency.
John T. Vance is the Major Felony Paralegal Team Lead at the Marion County Public Defender Agency and a Juris Doctor candidate at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. He supports and trains a team of paralegals while contributing to litigation strategy for major felony cases. A frequent speaker and panelist on reentry, juvenile justice, and sentencing reform, John has been published in both professional and academic outlets, including Res Gestae (Indiana State Bar Association, 2025) and The Harbinger (N.Y.U. Review of Law & Social Change, 2022).
Both panelists will share stories of their paths to careers in the law, insights into the struggles of former inmates, the importance of inclusivity to successful reentry, and what judges, lawyers, and legal professionals can do to help formerly incarcerated individuals find fulfilling roles in our community. Welcome and introductory remarks will be made by Chief Judge James R. Sweeney II and The Hon. Frank Sullivan, Jr., Bicentennial Professor at the IU McKinney School of Law and former Indiana Supreme Court justice.
The event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required. Please register at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/DecemberCLE to reserve a space and indicate whether you will attend in person or virtually. Those attending virtually will receive the link upon registration, and again the day before the program with instructions on how to connect via Zoom. One hour of continuing legal education credit has been approved for this program.