Bar passage rate improves slightly post-appeal
Following the appeals process, the overall pass rate for the July 2019 Indiana bar exam has risen to 3 percentage points to 65%, a repeat of the pre- and post-appeal pass rates for the July 2018 exam.
Marilyn Odendahl
Articles
ILS joins effort to block Indiana’s Medicaid work requirements
A lawsuit challenging Indiana’s work requirements for Medicaid recipients, which according to the state’s own estimates would result in roughly 24,000 people losing health care coverage each year, was filed in federal court Monday.
Curry to resign as Marion County prosecutor
Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry will resign from office due to health concerns, his office announced in a statement today.
Services planned for Cass Superior Judge Maughmer
Services have been announced for Cass Circuit Judge Richard Maughmer who died Monday evening in an accident at his home. He was first elected to the bench in 2001 and was the first and only judge to preside over Cass Superior Court 2.
Federal court blocks Indiana law banning smokable hemp
Indiana’s law criminalizing smokable hemp has been snuffed out, at least temporarily, by a federal court, which found the proponents of hemp made convincing arguments that the federal farm bill of 2018, expanding the definition of hemp and removing the plant from the federal schedule of controlled substances, pre-empted the state statute.
IU McKinney raises a glass to 125 years of educating lawyers
With champagne and cake, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law celebrated its 125th anniversary Tuesday evening, recognizing the institution’s accomplishments as well as its alumni and faculty.
Indiana joins states seeking to settle with Purdue Pharma
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is among the 29 attorneys general across the country backing a proposed settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, calling the agreement a “significant breakthrough in our important fight against the opioid crisis.”
Hometown roots, statewide respect: John Whiteleather named 2019 Legendary Lawyer
“I’ve had a great career,” said longtime Whitley County attorney and prosecutor John Whiteleather, “and I hope I have contributed back to the community for what it provided to me.” Whiteleather’s colleagues on the bench and bar assure him that he did, recognizing him as the Indiana Bar Foundation’s 2019 Legendary Lawyer.
Growing for success: Law firms still looking for merger opportunities, but fewer partners available
With its impending entrance into the Minneapolis market, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP is set to expand its footprint to 12 cities, grow its roster of attorneys to more than 600 and take a step closer to its goal of becoming a regionally dominant law firm. While law firm merger activity in the Hoosier State is increasing, the recently announced Taft deal is among the largest in recent years.
Lawyers vulnerable to economic downturn some see coming
Some economists are again talking about a recession as certain market indicators point to a coming slowdown. Even if the economy stays strong, experts say the changes within the legal industry will still create winner and losers.
Bopp Law Office loses attorney fees lawsuit
A former Illinois Congressman who redecorated his Capitol Hill office in an extravagant “Downton Abbey” style and then was indicted in 2016 for federal campaign finance violations has won a dispute over attorney fees against his former counsel, the Bopp Law Firm in Terre Haute.
State cannot overcome calendar in appeal of suppression order
Although the state was able to get a trial court to reconsider the suppression of cellphone evidence in a rape trial, it could not convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that its pursuit of an interlocutory appeal was timely.
Fired Elkhart city attorney fails to overcome appointee determination
A former Elkhart city attorney who was told she was being fired because the new mayor wanted “to hire my own guy” could not overcome the precedent the Northern Indiana District Court used to determine she was an appointed policymaker and therefore not covered by federal protections.
Indiana’s struggle with insanity defense mirrors coming SCOTUS case
A case that split the Indiana Supreme Court last December over a criminal defendant’s mental capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of her actions dovetails into a larger question looming before the U.S. Supreme Court — whether states have to provide laws that allow for an insanity defense.
Marion County judges offer cool, sweet thank you to jurors
Recently, Marion County jurors got another summons — this time an invitation to join judges, other jurors and their families in enjoying some ice cream. The Marion County Superior and Circuit Courts held its inaugural Juror Appreciation Day Aug. 24 at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, just north of downtown Indianapolis.
Macey Swanson expanding after closure of Fillenwarth Dennerline
After more than half a century of representing labor unions, working Hoosiers and public interest organizations, the Indianapolis law firm of Fillenwarth Dennerline Groth & Towe closed Sept. 1. However, two attorneys from the firm will be joining and helping transform Macey Swanson into Macey Swanson Hicks Sauer & Vlink LLP.
Lefstein leaves legacy in classroom and public defense
In the middle of what likely was chaos on a spring day in 1971, Norman Lefstein sat down and calmly wrote a petition for habeas corpus.
Taft announces merger, expansion into Minneapolis market
Taft Stettinius & Hollister has announced it will be expanding its footprint through a merger with the 135-attorney Minnesota law firm of Briggs and Morgan. Once the combination is completed Jan. 1, Taft will grow to more than 600 lawyers spread across 12 offices located primarily in the Midwest.
Res judicata clarification allows CHINS finding to stand
In granting a petition on rehearing, the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed its earlier ruling and allowed the Department of Child Services to move forward with a new child in need of services petition even though the filing relied on allegations made in a previous CHINS petition that had been overturned.
7th Circuit: Indiana voter purge provision violates federal law
In a ruling that reminded Indiana of the need to protect the integrity of the voting process, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the state from kicking individuals off the voter rolls based solely on a match in the Crosscheck database.