San Francisco's sister city to the east, Indianapolis, is witnessing a shakeup in the judicial branch as Thomas E. Wheeler II assumes the mantle of Interim United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, according to a recent announcement by the Department of Justice. Appointed by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and sworn in by District Court Judge James R. Sweeney, Wheeler's interim tenure began on Monday, alongside news that President Donald J. Trump has already dropped his name in the hat for Senate confirmation, according to the announcement.
Wheeler, a Hoosier through and through, cuts a figure of extensive legal and government service, his résumé bursting the seams with roles varying from partner at Indianapolis law firms to Acting General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Education and his shoes have already paced the halls of the Department of Justice as a former Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, where he managed a broad portfolio that featured Divisions like Appellate, Criminal and Housing, just to drop a few names. His work didn't hibernate during the COVID-19 pandemic either; he dovetailed as Senior Counsel to the Secretary of Education, collaborating closely with outfits like the Center for Disease Control and the White House Coronavirus Task Force, aimed at navigating the stormy seas of the crisis. In addition, his voice lent gravitas at the National Sheriffs' Association as their legal sage and even at the CDC where he consulted on our nation's jails and prisons amidst the health scourge.
Indiana's own Pike High School must be flaunting proud colors with an alumnus like Wheeler, who not only carried the state banner high in the U.S. Supreme Court with the creation of Indiana's voter ID law but also stashed away awards with the fervor of a chipmunk prepping for winter. With accolades like the Benjamin Harrison Writing Award and recognition from entities like The Best Lawyers in America® under his belt, Wheeler isn't shy in the department of accomplishments. His fingerprints are even visible on the legislative front; having chaired both the Indiana Recount and Election Commissions, he's been at the nerve center of votes and counts.
