Our latest alumnus profile on Rhetoric Notes is of Stephen Creason ‘97.  Mr. Creason was a Speech major and Political Science minor.  While a student he was involved in Parliamentary Union, Alpha Phi Omega, Student Senate, College Republicans, The Commentary, and Moot Court.  After Wabash he attended law school at Indiana University Indianapolis and has remained active by regularly judging Moot Court and also participating in WABASH Day.

Mr. Creason has also worked to organize an educational panel on Public Service in the Law, which will be held in Baxter Hall 101 next Wednesday (November 4) at Noon.  Also serving on the panel will be the Hon. James Joven '89 (Judge, Marion County Small Claims Court), Josh Minkler '85 (Assistant United States Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice), and Chris Atkins '97 (General Counsel and Policy Director, Indiana Office of Management and Budget).

TM: What is your current position in the professional world?

SC: I'm a Deputy Attorney General in the Office of Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller where I'm an appellate attorney.  I've worked for the Attorney General's Office for 10 1/2 years, first as a law clerk and then as an attorney.  The Attorney General's Office is the State's law firm, so we handle most of the State's legal business.  It's a high-volume, diverse legal practice.  Personally, I handle litigation in the State and federal appellate courts, primarily as a prosecutor in criminal cases. 

TM: Can you explain a little about what you do on a day-to-day basis?

SC: I supervise the section of the Office that is responsible for responding to federal court appeals filed by prisoners (called habeas corpus petitions) and representing the State in the various appeals filed in murder cases where a sentence of death or life imprisonment without parole was imposed.  My practice is mostly in the U.S. and Indiana Supreme Courts, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals.  Most of the questions we deal with involve interpretation of the state and federal constitutions and statutes, which makes each case a unique intellectual challenge.  The job involves a lot of reading transcripts of trials, researching a wide variety of legal questions, and writing briefs for the appellate courts.  Although I present oral argument in many cases, much like what Wabash students do during the Moot Court Competition held each year, much of my time is spent researching and writing.  (At right, Steve Creason before the Indiana Supreme Court)

TM: What led you there?

SC: When I went to law school, I wanted to become an appellate attorney so that I could focus my practice on complex legal questions--especially constitutional law.  I also had a strong interest is public service, so the Attorney General's Office was always on my short list of desired employers.  Also weighing in the OAG's favor is the fact that most law firms don't have specialized appellate practices and those few that do give few opportunities to young attorneys.  The Attorney General, on the other hand, represents the State in every appellate case where it or its officers are a party, both civil and criminal cases.  A clerkship-for-credit during my second year of law school got my foot in the door and from the very first day I had my own caseload and was writing briefs that were filed in the Indiana Court of Appeals.  Even since then, I've personally handled my own cases and never carried a more senior attorney's briefcase (nor has a junior attorney ever carried mine!).  I've received more appellate experience with the Attorney General than I could have received anywhere else in Indiana and I remain very thankful for the opportunity to have done it.   

TM: What do you most enjoy about your job?

SC: I enjoy several things about my job.  Foremost, I love the challenge of solving difficult legal questions at the highest level and appellate law gives me that opportunity every day.  It's also rewarding to have your name associated with appellate court decisions that establish new legal principles--most lawyers don't have the opportunity to make new law every day they go to work.  Finally, I'm blessed to work with some of the brightest and most dedicated public servants around; plus, I know that my work benefits the public at large and not just a private person or corporation.    

TM: What are some of the opportunities that public service has given you?

SC: I'm lucky to have the opportunity to work on some of the most high-profile and important cases in the State, and occasionally, nation.  And I get to do so while representing the public at large and their collective interest, which both an honor and heavy responsibility at the same time.  Aside from essentially being an advisor to some of the most respected courts and judges, my best opportunity was to spend several months at the U.S. Supreme Court through a fellowship offered for state attorneys through the National Association of Attorneys General.  It was an unparalleled opportunity that allowed me to study the Court full-time and help other state attorneys prepare their briefs and oral arguments before the Court.  I attended every argument that the Court held during my time there and got to witness the country's best advocates before the nation's toughest panel of judges.  I have no doubt that my career in public service has made me a better lawyer and better man.

TM: How did Wabash help prepare you for your future?

SC: Study in the liberal arts is the ideal training ground for a legal career--or any career focusing on advocacy, for that matter.  Law professors like to say that they don't teach law as much as the train students "to think like a lawyer."  Wabash handled that far better than my law school did, in my opinion.  In fact, I find that I draw from my undergraduate experience studying history, literature, science, politics, and (especially) rhetoric far more than I do from any lesson learned in law school.  And it's not just the critical thinking skills that I gained; I also learned the ability to acutely relate to people, events, and ideas to which I have little personal connection.  That makes me a better lawyer and more persuasive advocate.  Wabash probably isn't the only place that could have given me such an education, but I have no doubt that it was one of the best.

TM: Is there something in particular that you miss about Wabash?

SC: The "place," and by that I mean the grounds, buildings, and the feelings I have when I'm there.  I only get back a couple of times a year, if that, and I always leave feeling as if I just didn't spend enough time. 

TM: What sort of academic and extra-curricular advice would you offer today's Wally?

SC: I am a strong supporter of the Parliamentary Union and other forensics-based activities that are offered at Wabash, whether they be Moot Court, Model UN, or student government.  Being able to effectively speak about your ideas is probably the most important skill that a person can learn outside of class, so the reasoning and persuasion skills honed in these programs are invaluable.  Years from now, they will serve you in your professional career--whatever that may be--and personal life far more than what your major or grades were.  Writing for one of the several student journalism and opinion publications is also valuable for much the same reason.  And although I didn't appreciate them as much as I should have at the time I was a student, I think athletics of any type are important for teambuilding and leadership skills. 

TM: Other things you would like to add or share?

SC: I strongly encourage my fellow Wallies to consider dedicating part or all of their careers to some form of public service no matter what field they choose.  All too often, we allow ourselves to get preoccupied with advancing ourselves up the ladder and/or making more money.  But public service brings intangible benefits that far outweigh our status or income.  And it doesn't have to be a full-time job, you can serve on a school board, local advisory board, or even be active in civic groups that improve the community.  I don't believe I know a public servant or volunteer who doesn't find his or her efforts to have been highly rewarding. 

Of course, none of that has been as rewarding as my family.  My wife Kate and I are looking forward to bringing our 22-month-old son Evan to Crawfordsville soon for his first campus visit.  Hopefully we can get that in before the Class of 2030 matriculates. (At left, Steve and Kate Creason volunteering at WABASH Day)

TM: Thanks, Steve, for taking the time to share your experiences with Rhetoric Notes and we look forward to your panel next week at Wabash.