Justin Forkner

Justin brings a wealth of experience in Indiana’s appellate courts, legal writing, leadership, and government and regulatory operations. Prior to joining the Allen Law Group, Justin was the Chief Administrative Officer for the Indiana Supreme Court for nearly eight years, overseeing the Court’s administrative agency of roughly 250 employees. He received his undergraduate degree from Indiana University – Bloomington in 2001 and his juris doctorate from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 2010 where he was an associate editor on the Indiana Law Review.

After graduating from law school, Justin served as a judicial law clerk at the Indiana Supreme Court in the chambers of Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard, Justice Mark S. Massa, and Justice Steven H. David, working as the primary law clerk in researching and drafting nearly forty majority and separate opinions from Indiana’s highest court. From 2014 to 2016, Justin was the Administrative Law Judge for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, where he conducted proceedings and heard appeals of agency actions. He joined the Court’s administrative agency in 2016 as a deputy director in the Indiana Office of Court Services, was appointed IOCS Executive Director in March 2018, and named Chief Administrative Officer in October 2018. From 2022 to 2024, Justin was an adjunct professor of law at the IU-McKinney School of Law teaching legal communications including persuasive trial and appellate drafting and oral advocacy.

As Chief Administrative Officer, Justin represented Indiana’s judicial branch on numerous state and national entities, including the Conference of State Court Administrators where he led national efforts on the use of artificial intelligence in courts. He also served as a liaison to the Conference of Chief Justices’ amicus brief committee, reviewing and editing amicus briefs filed in federal cases containing interests relevant to state courts.

Justin is a proud veteran. He commissioned as a Field Artillery officer in the U.S. Army after college and served seven years on active duty, including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has also served five years in the Indiana Army National Guard. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Field Artillery Officer Basic Course and the U.S. Army Airborne School. Among other military decorations, he is a recipient of the Combat Action Badge and Bronze Star Medal.

In his free time, Justin enjoys spending time with his family, working out, and traveling.

Education

• Indiana University – Bloomington (B.A. History, 2001)
• Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 2010)

Admissions

• Indiana Supreme Court
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana

Professional Associations and Recognitions:

• Indiana State Bar Association
• Indianapolis Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• IBJ Media: 250 Most Influential Business Leaders in Indiana (2022)
• Indiana State Bar Association Presidential Citation (2025)