James P. White

James P. (Jim) White, a titan in the field of legal education and law school accreditation and a champion of the Indianapolis arts community, died peacefully on May 1, 2025. Born in Iowa City in 1931, Jim was the only child of Raymond and Bess White. Known for his keen intellect, dry wit, broad interests, deep knowledge and seemingly photographic memory, Jim was a brilliant teacher and lecturer. Through his role at the American Bar Association (ABA), he was instrumental in improving legal education standards and developing and enforcing law school accreditation criteria throughout the world. His legacy is marked by worldwide respect and recognition in the legal community, extensive world travel, and appreciation and support of arts and culture in Indianapolis and around the globe.

Jim received his B.A. (1953) and J.D (1956) from the University of Iowa. He served as a First Lieutenant in United States Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps in Korea from 1956-1958. Following a teaching appointment and a Master of Law at George Washington University (1959), Jim was appointed Assistant Professor at the University of North Dakota School of Law, where he took on the role of Acting Dean (1962-63) and then Assistant Dean (1963-66). It was in Grand Forks that Jim met and in 1964 married Anna Seim, his beloved wife and partner in life. In 1966, Jim and Anna moved to Ann Arbor, where Jim was awarded a Carnegie Post-Doctoral Fellowship in University Administration at the University of Michigan.

In 1966, Jim was appointed Professor at the Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis, where he was a sought after and popular lecturer and mentor for 36 years, and was awarded Professor Emeritus upon his retirement. During this time, he also served as the Dean for Academic Planning and Development for Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis (IUPUI) from 1974- 1980 and as a Special Assistant to the Chancellor at IUPUI from 1974-1988.

In 1974, Jim was appointed Consultant on Legal Education to the American Bar Association, a position he held until 2000. In his role with the ABA, Jim was instrumental in improving and restructuring law school curriculum and operations and in setting high standards for law school accreditation in the U.S. and abroad. Under his leadership, the ABA strengthened its quality and diversity standards for accreditation and created programs for law school deans and faculty members, clinical legal education, and development. Jim’s calls for excellence and unruffled perseverance touched virtually every law school in the country and set a high bar for legal education around the globe.

Jim’s work at the ABA brought him in contact with legal administrators and educators around the world, with whom he forged many close friendships. His deep knowledge and opinions were sought after by many in the field. When he retired from the ABA in 2000, his colleagues at the ABA established an endowed annual James P. White Lecture on Legal Education. Through Jim’s broad contacts and professional connections, the White Lecture has hosted four U.S. Supreme Court justices (Sandra Day O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Anthony Kennedy and Chief Justice John Roberts) as well as other jurists and legal scholars.

Jim was the author of numerous publications and articles and lectured around the world throughout his career. He was awarded 16 honorary degrees from colleges and law schools throughout the country and abroad. He had a special relationship with Butler University, where he served on the Board from 2004-2017. Jim was appointed Honorary Vice-Chair of the John 23rd Institute of Contemporary Law at Catholic University in Luben, Poland and named an Honorary Citizen of Quito, Ecuador. In addition to many other awards and honors, Jim was awarded the prestigious “Sagamore of the Wabash” by Governor Frank O’Bannon in 2000. He is also a member of the Order of Coif, recognizing excellence in the legal profession.

Jim was an ardent supporter of Indianapolis arts and culture and regularly attended performances at the Indianapolis Symphony, Dance Kaleidoscope, Butler University, and other venues. Jim and Anna were early and enthusiastic champions of the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis and hosted many of the participants in their home. The couple were longtime supporters of the Indianapolis Museum of Art (now Newfields), where Anna was the first woman Chair, and Arts for Learning (Young Audiences of Indiana), as well as many other Indianapolis institutions.

Aside from his professional accomplishments and philanthropic work, Jim will be remembered as an erudite man of wide interests and expertise, intellectual curiosity and interest in the world. He was a discerning collector of 19th century and contemporary art, an epicure of classic taste, an opinionated lover of classical music, an avid reader across a wide spectrum of books and magazines (reading three newspapers a day), and a wonderful raconteur with an unfailing memory of detail. Although an unapologetic Anglophile, he nonetheless raised the Irish flag and sang the Irish national anthem on St. Patrick’s Day. He was an apostle of Latin mass, a devout attendee of the farmers’ market, and actively engaged in daily life, whether attending performances, picking up his beloved brioche and fresh pasta or posting a Ukrainian flag in his front yard. He believed in homemade desserts at lunch and dinner, every day. He sought out and appreciated the finer things in life, lived by a high set of standards, and was always willing to share his opinions.

Most of all, Jim will be remembered for his love and dedication to Anna throughout their 54-year marriage, which was an inspiration to all. Jim and his wife Anna were renowned for their involvement in Indianapolis cultural and art institutions, their elegant and gracious entertaining (especially their Christmas parties), and their wide circle of dear friends and colleagues. He was a devoted partner and champion of Anna in her endeavors and achievements throughout their marriage. Both highly accomplished, they were mentors and good friends to many in all walks of life.

Jim is predeceased by his wife Anna Seim White. He is survived by his nieces and nephews, Henry Helgen and Michele Kelm Helgen (Minneapolis, MN), Anne Helgen and Michael Gilligan (Belmont, MA), Kristi Helgen (Eagle River, AK), John Anders and Barbara Linnell (Viroqua, WI), Erik Linnell (Hastings, MN), and Anna Louise Linnell (Decorah, IA), eight grand-nieces and grand-nephews (and spouses), and one great-grandnephew. He was grateful for the companionship of his cat, Boris, and for the loving care and friendship of Angie Ballard, whose support (and bountiful baked goods) kept Jim active and in his home.

In keeping with Jim’s wishes, services will be private. Burial will be in the White family plot in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Iowa City, Iowa. Memorials may be made to Indianapolis International Violin Competition and Arts for Learning (an affiliate of Young Audiences of America), both of which Jim and Anna generously supported over the years.