Laf. attorneys comment on Allen Sharp

U.S. District Court Judge Allen Sharp had a strong command of the cases before him and a strong command of his courtroom. That’s according to Lafayette attorney Joe Bumbleburg, who knew Sharp when he was a trial lawyer early in his career. Bumbleburg said Sharp was a very able trial lawyer and an able opponent. Bumbleburg still enjoys the memory of when he and former law partner Jack King faced off against Sharp in his last civil trial before Sharp was appointed to the Indiana Court of Appeals in 1969. Sharp won the personal injury case. But, Bumbleburg said he kidded Sharp over the years about the amount of money the jury awarded Sharp’s client.

As a judge, Bumbleburg said, “Sharp had an immense grip on his cases. He remembered what he read.” Also, Bumbleburg said, “Sharp never forgot what it was like to be a lawyer.” Bumbleburg reflected that Sharp was very loyal to the law clerks and staff members who worked for him and that Sharp was greatly regarded by them.

Bumbleburg said Sharp started as an enlisted man in the Air Force Reserve at Grissom Air Base and worked his way up to Lieutenant Colonel. He said Sharp served as Judge Advocate General for the 434th Wing at Grissom and that Sharp was very supportive of reserve officers.

Bumbleburg and Lafayette attorney Jerry Withered both said Sharp loved to come to Lafayette to hear cases because he was familiar with the lawyers here and found them to be capable and competent. Both attorneys also remember Sharp as a fine historian.

Bumbleburg summed up his relationship with Sharp by saying he has great memories of the judge and is saddened by the loss of a man he considered a friend.