Attorney General - The Indiana Lawyer

Rokita, Weinzapfel launch general election AG campaigns

July 22, 2020 | Olivia Covington

With the candidates now in place, what has so far been an unconventional race for Indiana Attorney General is shifting gears toward the November election. Democrat Jonathan Weinzapfel, a former state representative and mayor of Evansville, is promoting himself as the attorney general of the people, not the party. He’ll face off against former Indiana Republican Rep. Todd Rokita, a known quantity in the Hoosier state who is promising “certainty in uncertain times.”

AG Hill pledges support to ‘conservative principles’ after convention defeat

July 14, 2020 | Olivia Covington

In the aftermath of a convention defeat that will keep him from serving a second term in office, Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is vowing to “continue to support and fight for our conservative principles.” Hill, however, did not explicitly endorse Republican AG nominee Todd Rokita.

Rokita earns Republican AG nomination, ousting incumbent Hill

July 10, 2020 | IL Staff

Former Indiana congressman Todd Rokita has won the state Republican Party’s nomination for attorney general, defeating embattled incumbent AG Curtis Hill. Rokita will face Democratic nominee Jonathan Weinzapfel, the former mayor of Evansville, in the November general election.

7th Circuit snuffs out injunction on Indiana smokable hemp law

July 9, 2020 | Olivia Covington

An injunction prohibiting the state government from prosecuting certain uses of smokable hemp has been lifted after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals found the prohibition was overbroad. But when the smoke clears, the appellate panel said a revised injunction may still be appropriate.

Court strikes Indiana ‘abortion complications’ reporting law

July 9, 2020 | Olivia Covington

A federal judge has struck down another Indiana abortion law as unconstitutional, continuing a years-long streak of court action against Hoosier abortion legislation. However, the state also secured a victory when the same judge upheld a requirement that abortion clinics be inspected annually.

Divided appeals court orders dismissal of Michael Flynn prosecution

June 25, 2020 | Associated Press

A divided federal appeals court on Wednesday ordered the dismissal of the criminal case against President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn, turning back efforts by a judge to scrutinize the Justice Department’s extraordinary decision to drop the prosecution.

AG Hill, Republican attorneys general back police amid congressional debate

June 25, 2020 | Associated Press

Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill joined 11 Republican state attorneys general who weighed in this week on the congressional debate over policing amid the national push to stop racial bias in law enforcement.

Prosecutor: Trump ally Roger Stone was ‘treated differently’

June 24, 2020 | Associated Press

A federal prosecutor is prepared to tell Congress on Wednesday that Roger Stone, a close ally of President Donald Trump, was given special treatment ahead of his sentencing because of his relationship with the president.

Under Trump, ‘You’re fired!’ even greets federal prosecutors

June 22, 2020 | Associated Press

Former Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara had a snickering response to news that his successor as top federal prosecutor was “stepping down” from the job. “Doesn’t sound like ‘stepping down,’” Bharara tweeted soon after the announcement was made Friday night that Geoffrey S. Berman was out.

Democrats pick former Evansville mayor to run for Indiana attorney general

June 18, 2020 | Lindsey Erdody, Indianapolis Business Journal

Former Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel has won the Democratic nomination for Indiana attorney general, the party announced Wednesday night. Weinzapfel edged state Sen. Karen Tallian in a close race and will challenge the Republican AG nominee, to be decided next month, on the November ballot.

AG Hill accusers vow to pursue ‘all available civil claims’ in state court

June 16, 2020 | Olivia Covington

After a federal court ruling that terminated Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill as a defendant in their lawsuit, the four women who accuse Hill of sexual misconduct say they will “continue their pursuit of all available civil claims” against the AG.

Justices deny Holcomb’s request to clarify whether suspended AG Hill ‘vacates’office

May 18, 2020 | Olivia Covington

The Indiana Supreme Court has denied Gov. Eric Holcomb’s request for clarification on whether now-suspended Attorney General Curtis Hill has temporarily vacated his office due to his suspension. The ruling means, at least for now, Hill’s chief deputy will remain in charge of the legal operations of the Indiana Office of the Attorney General.

AG Hill: Indianapolis’ limit on religious services is unconstitutional

May 15, 2020 | Samm Quinn and Indianapolis Business Journal Staff

Attorney General Curtis Hill on Thursday said Indianapolis’ order limiting church gatherings to no more than 25 people amounts to “unconstitutional and unlawful religious discrimination.”

Justices wary of tying AIDS money to prostitution pledge

May 5, 2020 | Associated Press

In its second day of arguments by phone, the US Supreme Court appeared skeptical of a requirement that foreign affiliates of U.S.-based health organizations denounce prostitution as a condition of receiving taxpayer money to fight AIDS around the world.

Order vacating man’s removal from sex offender registry affirmed

April 9, 2020 | Dave Stafford

A trial court that vacated its prior order removing a man’s name from the Indiana Sex Offender Registry was correct in doing so because the Indiana Attorney General’s Office had not been notified of the offender’s request to be taken off the registry, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.

Judge orders sanctions against state attorney, DOC in prisoner litigation

January 9, 2020 | Olivia Covington

Monetary sanctions and default judgment have been entered against state defendants and their attorney in a prisoner case that the presiding federal judge said “shattered” her trust in the defendants’ litigation practices. The judge also imposed new requirements on lawyers in the Indiana Attorney General’s office who defend the Department of Correction in prisoner civil-rights cases.

Embattled AG Hill announces he will seek re-election

November 14, 2019 | IL and IBJ Staff

Embattled Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill announced on Thursday that he will seek re-election, setting up a potential Republican Party convention fight for the nomination in the spring.

AG Hill tries barring testimony against him

October 16, 2019 | Associated Press and IL Staff

Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is trying to block two women from testifying about allegations of sexual misconduct as he faces a disciplinary hearing on separate claims that he drunkenly groped four women at a bar last year.

AG Hill’s top advisers compelled to produce evidence in discipline case

October 16, 2019 | IL Staff

Two of Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill’s top advisers must produce documents concerning their communications with him regarding the groping and sexual misconduct accusations that led to his attorney discipline hearings, scheduled to begin next week.

Google, Big Tech face a new set of foes: Nearly all 50 states

September 10, 2019 | Associated Press

Big tech companies have long rebuffed attempts by the federal government to scrutinize or scale back their market power. Now they face a scrappy new coalition as well: prosecutors from nearly all 50 states, including Indiana.

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