Articles

Indiana law schools rank in annual report

Indiana’s four law schools once again were among the rankings for the U.S. News & World Report’s annual report of graduate schools.Based on data from fall 2007 and early 2008, three of the state’s law schools ranked in the top 100 of schools. The University of Notre Dame Law School is at 22, up from 28 last year; Indiana University School of Law – Bloomington, 36th, retained its ranking from last year; and Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis is…

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Professor to testify about foreclosures

A Valparaiso University law professor and expert on predatory mortgage lending and foreclosures will testify in front of the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services Wednesday. Assistant professor Alan White was invited to testify during the committee's hearing at 10 a.m. EDT on "The Implementation of the HOPE for Homeowners Program and a Review of […]

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Indiana deans support Georgia’s rule of law

Two Indiana law school deans joined 67 other deans in signing a statement of support for international norms of conduct and the rule of law in the Caucasus region in light of the recent violence between Russia and the Republic of Georgia. “The actions of Russia threaten … the people of Georgia and the Georgians’ commitment to values we hold fundamental and daily teach to our students,” the deans wrote in their letter. Recipients of the statement include the U.S. Department…

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Southern District Court seeking comments

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana wants to hear from you. The court is seeking public comment on the revision of certain local rules. The proposed revisions look to modify Local Rule 5.1 – general format of documents presented for filing, Local Rule 6.1 – extensions of time, and Local Rule 56.1 – summary judgment procedure. Changes have also been made regarding the discipline imposed by other courts, reinstatement, and the service of papers and other notices.The…

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State bar seeks board nominations

The Indiana State Bar Association is looking for interested members to fill vacancies on its Board of Governors. Letters of interest to be considered for a nomination are due to the state bar by March 28.Seven districts have vacancies for the term October 2008 through October 2010: districts 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11. Letters of interest and resumes no longer than two pages in length should be sent to Richard S. Eynon, ISBA Nominating Committee, Indiana State Bar…

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Commission publicly admonishes Circuit judge

A Carroll Circuit judge received a public admonition from the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications today in lieu of filing formal disciplinary proceedings. Hon. Donald Currie was arrested in December 2007 for public intoxication after a police officer saw the judge outside of his car near Interstate 65 in Boone County. The judge pleaded guilty to the Class B misdemeanor in Boone Circuit Court and is currently serving a one-year probationary sentence in Boone County. According to the public admonition, both…

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Marion County senior judge dies

A former Marion Superior judge and deputy prosecutor died May 2 after a long battle with cancer. Judge John R. “Jack” Barney Jr., 73, also served as a senior judge for Marion Circuit and Superior courts.Judge Barney, an Indianapolis native, earned his law degree from Indiana University School of Law in 1962 and joined his father’s law firm, Barney & Hughes, after graduation. He practiced at the firm, which later became Barney & Barney, until 1984. Judge Barney was a Marion…

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Appeals court in Valparaiso Monday

The Indiana Court of Appeals will hear arguments in Valparaiso Monday in a case involving an automobile accident and the statute of limitations to amend a complaint.The panel of Judges John Sharpnack, Nancy Vaidik, and Michael Barnes will be asked to decide in Tim Sinks v. Krista L. Caughey, 49A04-0709-CV-502, whether the trial court erred in denying Sinks’ motion to dismiss and allowing Caughey to amend her complaint. Caughey was rear-ended by a pickup truck, and she relied on the information…

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Appellate judges to visit Jeffersonville

The three-judge panel of L. Mark Bailey, Cale Bradford, and Melissa May travel to southern Indiana to hear arguments before the Sherman Minton Inns of Court in Jeffersonville on April 9. The judges will hear the case Indiana Department of Natural Resources v. Lake George Cottagers Association, No.76A03-0708-CV-381, at 5:30 p.m. at the banquet hall Kye’s I, 500 Missouri Ave., Jeffersonville. At issue is who owns the land beneath a dam – the state or the Cottagers Association – and who…

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Valpo law lecture series starts Sept. 16

Valparaiso University School of Law's fall lecture series "Scholars and Advocates in Residence: Shaping the Public Dialogue" kicks off Sept. 16 with a presentation from a senior lecturer in law from Ireland.

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Tax fraud lands attorney in prison

An Indianapolis personal injury lawyer will spend time in prison for committing tax fraud by underreporting his income.U.S. District Judge Larry J. McKinney of the Southern District’s Indianapolis Division sentenced Robert E. Lehman to eight months in prison and six months of home detention after he pleaded guilty to making a false federal income tax return.Lehman filed false personal income tax returns with the IRS in 2002, 2003, and 2004, by understating his business income. When he paid his clients from…

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Deputy Allen County prosecutor dies

A deputy Allen County prosecutor died suddenly March 16 after a short illness. John William Archer was 58. Archer, a lifelong Hoosier, was born in Hartford City and earned his bachelor’s degree at Wabash College. He earned his J.D. at Valparaiso University School of Law. He spent 20 years in the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office and served as section head of the misdemeanor court. Prior to that, he owned Ruby Red Hot Records, a reflection of his love of music. He is survived…

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Mental health, criminal justice training set

The National Alliance on Mental Illness Indiana is hosting later this month its Mental Health and Criminal Justice Training program, which is geared toward attorneys, judges, correctional officers, mental-health providers, and others to educate them about mental illness.Session topics include “Categories of Mental Illness,” “The View from Inside,” and “Interacting and Communicating with Persons with a Mental Illness.” Speakers include Dr. George Parker, medical director of the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addictions, and Timothy Lines, Ph.D., chief psychologist and…

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Board approves new ICJI executive director

T. Neil Moore has been approved as executive director of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. The ICJI board approved the appointment by Gov. Mitch Daniels on Feb. 29. Moore comes to the position with many years of law enforcement experience, first working as an Indiana State Excise Police agent and then the Fort Wayne Police Department, where he served as chief of police for 10 years. After working in law enforcement, Moore became an assistant professor in the School of Public…

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Former Marion Superior judge dies

A former Marion Superior Court judge and longtime executive director of the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council died April 5 at his home after a long illness.Hon. Richard P. Good Jr., 76, was appointed by Gov. Frank O’Bannon in 1997 to Marion Superior Court, where he served in the Criminal Division. During his time on the bench, he was chosen by his peers to serve on the executive committee. After leaving the bench in 2002, he took on temporary assignments as presiding…

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