This is the sixteenth of our Court Times articles that highlight up close and personal a member of the Indiana Judiciary. Allen County Superior Court Judge Daniel G. Heath is our judge featured in this issue. Following his graduation from Indiana University-Bloomington, he entered the graduate program in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) but determined after one year that it was not for him and returned to Fort Wayne. He worked at Lincoln Bank as a collector, a manager, and then a loan officer before following his passion for the law and entering the Toledo University College of Law.
After one year, and the birth of their first child, Dan and Patricia and their new-born son, Andrew, moved to Indianapolis where he transferred to Indiana University School of Law–Indianapolis to attend classes at night. He clerked for Judge Patricia Gifford, interned in the Indiana State Senate, clerked for Judge John Mowrer, and worked for the Indiana State Republican Party. He also spent two years working for then Lt. Governor John Mutz as an Administrative Assistant.
Listen to a snippet of Judge Heath singing “New York, New York”
(written by Fred Ebb, John Kander).
After graduating from law school, the Heath family returned to Fort Wayne and Dan accepted a job as District Representative for then Congressman Dan Coats where he managed his congressional office and his successful 1986 re-election race. In 1987, Paul Helmke asked him to manage his race for Mayor of Fort Wayne. After the election, he spent a year as Mayor Helmke’s Chief of Staff and Safety Director. Dan then decided to run for Congress after Congressman Quayle was elevated from the U.S. Senate to Vice-President and Dan Coats became US Senator. He was narrowly defeated in the 1989 Special Election and, for the first time, went into private law practice. He spent seven years in the practice of law before deciding to run for judge in 1996. He was elected in November of 1996 and re-elected in 2002 and 2008.
Dan is married to Patricia Taube Heath, who has degrees in accounting and education and who he describes as the family anchor. They have three children: Andrew, Ryan and Sarah. Andrew is an attorney who resides in Wilmington, North Carolina with his wife, Kristen and their new baby born last May—the first grandchild for Dan and Patricia. Ryan earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees in economics from Columbia University in New York. He is applying for the PhD program and is currently employed by the university. He and his wife, Aubrey, are expecting their first child in December. Sarah and her husband, Austin, are both teachers in the Fort Wayne area.
What do you like most and least about being a trial court judge?
What I like most is the opportunity to provide lawyers and their clients the very best service that we can give them in terms of efficiency, opportunity, quality research and thoughtfulness. I know that it is a great opportunity to show the public that our judicial system is doing it’s very best. What I like the least is watching a lawyer work his heart out for his clients only to lose the case because the facts and law just aren’t favorable to his case.
What was your major in college and why did you decide to study law?
I majored in Political Science and minored in History. I decided to study law after I took business law class my junior year as an undergraduate. I found it very interesting and my interest hasn’t waned in all these years!
What would you do if you were not a judge?
I think I would have really liked to have been a college professor. I’ve taught business law classes over the years and really enjoy the interaction with students.
Who are the people you most admire?
I enjoy reading biographies and I learned through these readings to really admire Churchill, Washington and Lincoln. Of course, everyone admires them, but I really wanted to learn more about them through a number of biographies. I find that the more you learn about the struggles of others the more thankful you are for what you have.
What are your hobbies or favorite leisure activities, and how did you first get involved?
I got quite into music almost by accident. My wife often encouraged me to sing. So I did a little recording for her for our 22nd anniversary. From that came a CD for charity, followed by singing gigs with a tremendous jazz orchestra, then the formation of my own jazz ensemble. Since my children have grown, I play around the Midwest with my jazz ensemble about 20 or more weekends each year. I’ve also studied guitar for the past five years and play with a trio about once a month. I’ve also studied music theory on my own which has allowed me to write my own compositions.
What are your favorite books, and have you read any recently, or are reading now, that you would recommend?
My favorite book, hands down, is Anna Karenina. I like the classics and classic Russian authors like Tolstoy. The English classic authors, like George Eliot (real name Mary Anne Evans), are also tremendous writers. I just read Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow and I liked it very much, given the great new research that was done for the book. I also just read As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner.
Where did you grow up and how would you describe your childhood?
I grew up on a dairy farm north of Fort Wayne near the small town of Leo-Cedarville. My childhood was filled with a lot of work on the farm, but a lot of fun as well. I have great memories of summers spent on the farm. I had a twin brother to play with and nice older and younger brothers as well. No sisters allowed!
Do you have a favorite quote(s)?
My favorite quote is by Lincoln: “I will study and get ready, and perhaps my chance will come.”
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
I guess I’d have to go with Siesta Key, Florida. You can’t beat the beach there!
Do you have a favorite meal, recipe, and restaurant?
My favorite meal is blackened salmon with blue chess melted all over it. Throw in a baked potato with sour cream and butter and a good Shiraz and I’m in heaven! For my favorite restaurant, I’d have to go with Maggiano’s Little Italy in Chicago. It has great atmosphere. By the way, the Maggiano’s in Indianapolis is very good as well.