Among public defenders, cases rise but funding lags
Public defenders around Indiana say they need a life preserver made of money to stay afloat in the flood of child in need of services cases that has deluged state courts in recent years.
Marilyn Odendahl
Articles
Senate confirmation votes give 7th Circuit full bench
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has a full bench after Monday’s confirmation of the final two judicial nominees, Judge Amy St. Eve and Michael Scudder. Members of the U.S. Senate approved St. Eve and Scudder in rare bipartisan votes of 91-0 and 90-0, respectively.
Immigration attorneys see uptick in clients, fear as enforcement increases
This spring, Tom Linkel is getting more and more worried as he watches the grass grow and his business sink. As co-owner of Linkel Co., Linkel uses the same group of 30 workers from southern Mexico to keep grass along roadways mowed every summer season. But unlike past years, Linkel is still waiting to get approval and bring in the guest workers.
Wisconsin nominee confirmed to 7th Circuit seat after party-line vote
With a slim vote along party lines, the U.S. Senate confirmed Michael Brennan to the Wisconsin seat on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday, filling the longest vacancy in the federal judiciary.
Commencement ceremonies set for Class of 2018
Don the academic regalia and cue the Pomp and Circumstance — Indiana’s law schools are ready to host their graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2018, beginning with Indiana University Maurer School of Law’s commencement Saturday in Bloomington.
ABA study finds time constraints hamper pro bono activities
While an overwhelming majority of attorneys surveyed by the American Bar Association support pro bono work as a part of the legal profession, less than half indicated they were going to provide such help in 2017.
Attorney General argues reference to ISIS was not prosecutorial misconduct
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is asking the Indiana Supreme Court to review a case involving two Middle Eastern immigrants and references to terrorism which raises both a question of prosecutorial misconduct and an issue of first impression.
Hiring improves for smaller law school Class of 2017
The Class of 2017 graduating from Indiana law schools followed the national trend of being smaller than the previous class and posting better jobs numbers, but the Hoosier graduates moved in the opposite direction by posting a slight increase in unemployment, according new data released from the American Bar Association.
Paternity court pro bono ADR program helps clients find own solutions
Two times a year, the Alternative Dispute Resolution section of the Indianapolis Bar Association organizes a Paternity Court Mediation Day where volunteer attorneys try to help fighting parents reach an agreement about the care of their children. The cases are selected by the court and deal with issues that arise after paternity has been established — custody, parenting time and child support.
New inn of court highlights Indianapolis IP bar’s vibrancy
On April 13, IP attorneys in private practice and corporate legal departments as well as law school professors convened to begin establishing the Indianapolis Intellectual Property American Inn of Court. The group aims to educate, mentor and build collegiality in the local IP bar.
Indiana cities, counties sue over opioid epidemic
Dozens of Indiana towns, cities and counties have sued drugmakers and distributors, joining more than 500 nationwide who claim pharmaceutical giants disregarded the risks of the addiction by placing profits above public health.
COA: Bomb threat still evacuates closed courthouse
A man convicted of intimidation for threatening to blowup a courthouse failed to persuade the Indiana Court of Appeals that he did not want to evacuate the building because he made the calls when he knew the place would be empty.
7th Circuit strikes Indiana’s abortion law
In a split 2-1 decision, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down Indiana’s abortion ban, which prohibited a woman from terminating her pregnancy because of the gender, race or disability of the fetus.
National leader Robert Grey heralds diversity efforts in IU McKinney speech
As the 2018 speaker for the James P. White Lecture on Legal Education, Robert Grey, Jr., focused not on the classroom, but on what comes after and the changes that are occurring to bring more diversity to law firms and general counsel offices.
7th Circuit nominees get bipartisan support in committee vote
With 21-to-0 vote, Judge Amy St. Eve and Michael Scudder, the nominees for the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, were approved Thursday by the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Their nominations now proceed to the Senate for a confirmation vote at date to be determined.
St. Eve and Scudder to face Judiciary Committee vote
The U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary will consider the final nominees for the open seats on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday. Judge Amy St. Eve of the Northern Illinois District Court and Michael Scudder, partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, are on the agenda and, based on their committee hearing, do not appear to be facing any stiff opposition.
ABA poised to say ‘buh-bye’ to LSAT
A longstanding requirement of law school admission – taking the LSAT – could be eliminated under a proposal being considered by the American Bar Association.
Pro bono push: State, federal court see upturns in volunteering attorneys
While the need among unrepresented litigants continues to grow, state and federal courts in Indiana say recent efforts to encourage more pro bono service among attorneys are showing results.
IP clinics at IU Maurer, Notre Dame help inventors protect ideas, launch dreams
With the help of the intellectual property law clinics at Indiana University Maurer School of Law and Notre Dame Law Schools, inventors are securing patents and protections that could give their ideas the commercial boost the need to compete in the marketplace.
Questions about PACER fees swirling in court disputes
Just about any discussion of the federal judiciary’s online document system, PACER, will quickly turn to a questioning of the fees charged for accessing filings and why the information is not available for free. A recent ruling from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia provided insight into the Public Access to Court Electronic Records system’s financial health and raised more questions.