Greenfield High School Class of 1959
“With his quiet, humble manner, Charles doesn’t seek to attract attention to himself or his considerable lifetime accomplishments. We believe his extraordinary professional accomplishments and contributions should be celebrated and honored in the place where the foundation was laid.”
With those words, James Shelby and his fellow classmates from the GHS class of 1959 shared their desire to recognize Charles Goodloe, Jr. for his dedicated service and his significant, impactful achievements in life.
Charles received his 1963 Bachelor’s Degree in Business Economics from Indiana University and then served two years as a Sergeant in the 24th Infantry of the US Army. While working full time in Western Electric’s accounting department, he pursued further education and graduated in 1971 from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. He was hired as a law clerk in the Office of the US Attorney for Indiana’s Southern District. After passing the bar exam a few months later, he became the first African-American hired as an Assistant US Attorney for that district. A 37-year highly distinguished career filled with historic cases followed until his retirement in 2008.
Charles’ professional achievements were numerous and noteworthy during his legal career. He had a diverse case load and was willing to take on more unpopular ones. His federal cases included drug prosecutions, tax offenses, bank robberies, securities and bank fraud, gun and explosives violations, kidnappings, environmental crimes, child pornography cases, postal violations, draft-dodgers, police excessive force prosecutions, murders, and civil rights violations. He litigated hundreds of criminal and civil cases. In addition to the Seymour Recycling “Superfund Cleanup” (a landmark, precedent-establishing case), the Countrymark executive fraud case, and a high profile bombing and murder case, Charles has likewise invested his time and meticulous preparation to secure convictions against all those who violated federal law. Investigators and agents of several federal agencies praise his efforts.
Deborah Daniels, a former US Attorney and now partner at Kreig DeVault, says of Charles, “He’s really covered the gamut, but those environmental cases are among the most complex. And, he handled them all with the same quiet determination and attention to detail, an interest to find out what happened, and go after those responsible. There is a dignity about his practice that’s unparalleled.” Senior US District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker was initially hired into the same US Attorney office just a year after Charles and holds her colleague in high esteem. She says, “Charles was the lead attorney on what turned out to be the final prosecution of the Indiana leader of the Ku Klux Klan. He was a gifted trial attorney, whose thoroughness in preparation and effectiveness in advocacy before a jury resulted in many successful outcomes.”
Besides his case/trial responsibilities, over his career Charles served as Chief of the Civil Division, Chief of the Criminal Division, Senior Litigation Counsel, and Ethic Advisor. In those roles and throughout his career, he served as a mentor to younger attorneys in the office. His attention to detail and thoroughness were keys to his success according to US Congresswoman Susan Brooks, and he has shared those skills and attitudes with others eager to learn how to also be an excellent attorney.
Charles’ honors include being one of three attorneys selected for inclusion in an Indianapolis American Inn of Court’s Inaugural Oral History Project in 2005 – now permanently housed at the Indiana Historical Society. He was selected to serve as a member of the Board of the US 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Bar Association and served a number of years as an instructor for the Department of Justice’s Attorney General Advocacy Institute. Numerous awards were also given for Meritorious Service from the US Attorney’s Office/Department of Justice. Upon his retirement, The US Attorney’s Office (Southern District) named and dedicated the office’s conference room in his honor as a reminder of his influential tenure and stewardship there. Charles and his late wife, Brenda, have one daughter, Stacie. He continues to inspire and be an example for his peers.
Congratulations!