Articles

Trailblazing Judge Patricia Gifford leaves strong legacy

Retired Marion Superior Court Judge Patricia Gifford, the sixth woman to sit as a trial judge in the state of Indiana and one of the first women in the country to be assigned to prosecute only sex offense cases, died April 8 in Fort Meyers Beach, Florida. She was 79.

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7th Circuit nominees set for committee vote

The nominations of Michael Scudder, Jr., and Judge Amy St. Eve, the Illinois nominees for the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, are scheduled for a vote by the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary on Thursday. If approved by the committee, the pair will go on to the full Senate for a confirmation vote.

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Indiana’s Brady, Hanlon tapped for federal judgeships

Two Valparaiso Law School graduates are included in the latest round of judicial nominations released Tuesday by the White House. Holly Brady of Fort Wayne and J.P. Hanlon of Indianapolis have been nominated for the federal bench in the northern and southern Indiana district courts, respectively.

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Indianapolis attorney still tackling NFL concussion litigation

Although he will not be taking part in the $112.5 million in attorney fees awarded to class counsel representing the players against the National Football League, Indianapolis attorney Dan Chamberlain is continuing to help his player-clients get their piece of the nearly $1 billion settlement.

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Chief Justice Rush to join LSC discussion of opioid crisis

Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush will be part of a panel discussion on the opioid crisis at the Legal Service Corporation’s annual Forum on Increasing Access to Justice in Washington, D.C. Rush and Jay Chaudhary, managing attorney of Indiana Legal Services, will be among the participants on the Access to Justice and the Opioid Epidemic panel.

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As mergers surge, Indiana law firms not finding suitors

The legal industry continued two trends in the first quarter of 2018 — the white-hot pace of law firm combinations is getting hotter, and none of the acquisitions involved a firm either based in Indiana or with an office in the Hoosier state.

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Indiana law schools post 2-year bar passage rates

Calling it a “comprehensive report,” the American Bar Association released a series of spreadsheets March 22 which presented the ultimate two-year bar passage rate for 2015 graduates as well as the bar passage rates for first-time takers in 2016 and 2017 from each accredited law school.

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ABA proposal would allow law schools to offer more classes online

Under the current Standard 306, law schools may not grant more than 15 credit hours from online courses toward a J.D. degree, and may not enroll any first-year students in distance education. The proposed new rule would permit law schools to offer up to one-third of the credits for a J.D. degree online, and first-year students would be able to take up to 10 credits online.

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Steering committee named for 2020 mock trial nationals

Preparations for the 2020 National High School Mock Trial Championship in Evansville are continuing with the steering committee for the event being finalized. Lawyers, judge and private citizens from around Indiana are helping to oversee a contest which will bring about 900 high schoolers to Indiana.

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Steering committee named for 2020 mock trial nationals

Preparations for the 2020 National High School Mock Trial Championship in Evansville are continuing with the steering committee for the event being finalized. Lawyers, judge and private citizens from around Indiana are helping to oversee a contest which will bring about 900 high schoolers to Indiana.

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Southern Indiana District honors pro bono attorneys

As an environmental attorney, Tom Barnard had not represented a prison inmate and had never had a case involving the Eighth Amendment but when the Southern Indiana District Court called, recruiting pro bono counsel to help with a settlement hearing, he volunteered.

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Juvenile judge Moores on leave after riding accident

Marion Superior Judge Marilyn Moores has temporarily stepped down from her judicial duties after a horse riding accident left her with a broken leg that required three surgeries. Moores is undergoing three months or rehabilitation.

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Increase in LSC funding likely to boost Indiana Legal Services

With the just-passed federal spending bill putting an extra $25 million into the Legal Services Corporation’s coffers, Indiana Legal Services is anticipating a raise in funding to help with its work in providing civil legal assistance to indigent individuals and families across the Hoosier state.

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SEC litigation against former ITT executives continues

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s lawsuit against two principal officers of ITT Educational Services, Inc., continues to proceed to trial after a federal court Friday denied most of the partial summary judgment motions filed separately by the SEC and the defendants.

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Congress gives $410 million to Legal Services Corp.

The omnibus spending bill passed by Congress on Thursday includes not only funding for the Legal Services Corporation but a raise as well. The legislation provides $410 million for legal aid in fiscal year 2018, the highest appropriation since 2010.

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