South Bend murder suspect convicted after dying in jail
A judge has convicted a man who died in jail after he pleaded guilty to murder in the 1988 beating death of a pregnant South Bend woman.
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COA: Med-mal dismissal affirmed for counsel’s untimely filings
A woman who partially blamed her attorney’s personal problems for her failure to timely file pleadings in her proposed medical malpractice complaints could not convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that her case should not be dismissed. Among other things, the appellate panel simply found she failed to spend her time wisely.
Lawmakers pass bills adding new courts, judicial officers
Several bills seeking extra judicial assistance for Indiana counties struggling under overburdened caseloads have successfully made their cases to both legislative chambers. With that approval secured, the next stop is the governor’s desk.
Justice deny transfer to 13 cases
The Indiana Supreme Court denied granting transfer in any of the 13 cases brought before its bench last week, including a case involving a gun robbery consisting of more than a dozen firearms and a debt suit lacking malicious intent.
Indiana man cleared after child fires gun he dropped at Ikea
A suburban Indianapolis man who dropped a loaded handgun in an Ikea store that was found and fired by a child has been acquitted of criminal recklessness.
High court questions judiciary’s role in partisan redistricting
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority sounded wary Tuesday of allowing federal judges to determine when electoral maps are too partisan, despite strong evidence that the political parties drew districts to guarantee congressional election outcomes.
SCOTUS: Alaska moose-hunter can ‘rev up’ hovercraft
The National Park Service improperly banned an Alaska moose hunter from using a hovercraft on a river through a national preserve, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday in a unanimous decision.
Supreme Court tosses $315M award in USS Cole lawsuit
The Supreme Court on Tuesday threw out a nearly $315 million judgment against Sudan stemming from the USS Cole bombing, saying Sudan hadn’t properly been notified of the lawsuit.
Indiana House advances hate crimes bill that has mixed support
The Indiana House on Tuesday approved a hate crimes bill that is receiving mixed support from the business community, with nine Republicans joining all of the Democrats who voted against the measure.
House Republicans endorse hate crimes language that pleases governor, but not biz groups
Indiana House Republicans approved hate crimes language Monday that references a list of victims against whom crimes could qualify for harsher penalties — a move lauded by Gov. Eric Holcomb but criticized by two coalitions of businesses and not-for-profits seeking a broader list.
Revenge porn civil remedy bill advances in Senate
Although a measure that would offer civil remedies to revenge porn victims easily passed a Senate Judiciary committee Monday, questions were raised as to whether parents of teen victims could take action against the perpetrator’s parents to gain relief.
COA affirms commitment for woman with suicidal ideations
An Indiana appellate panel affirmed the commitment and forced-medication order of a woman found to be a danger to herself, finding there was clear and convincing evidence to support both orders despite her contentions otherwise.
Suspended attorney to serve 6 months for bankruptcy fraud, embezzlement
A suspended Fort Wayne attorney will serve six months in jail and has been ordered to pay nearly $240,000 in restitution after he pleaded guilty to embezzlement and tax fraud charges stemming from personal and client bankruptcy proceedings.
Founders, employees of Westfield financial firm accused of $10M fraud
The founders and three other former officers and employees of Westfield-based Banc-serv Partners LLP have been indicted in connection with what federal prosecutors describe as a 13-year-long conspiracy to defraud the Small Business Administration.
Gun rights groups ask Supreme Court to halt bump stock ban
Gun rights groups are asking the United States Supreme Court to stop the Trump administration from beginning to enforce its ban on bump stock devices, which allow semi-automatic weapons to fire like machine guns.
Trump says investigation abused him, led to ‘evil things’
House Democrats pressed the Justice Department to provide the full report from special counsel Robert Mueller even as Republicans gleefully called for them to move on from the Russia investigation. President Donald Trump accused those responsible for launching Mueller’s probe of “treasonous things against our country” and said they “certainly will be looked into.”
Second Roncalli counselor loses job over same-sex marriage
A second guidance counselor at an Indianapolis Catholic high school will lose her job because she’s in a same-sex marriage.
Indianapolis officials go to market to sell $600M in justice center bonds
Representatives from the city of Indianapolis were in New York City on Thursday selling more than $600 million worth of bonds to investors to fund the new criminal justice center — a milestone in the giant public project.
Lawsuits by 3 men allege sex abuse by former Indiana priest
Three men are suing the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette, alleging that a priest molested them as children and that the diocese covered up the abuse.
A more skeptical high court to hear redistricting challenge
Last year, proponents of limiting partisan politics in the creation of electoral districts needed to win over Justice Anthony Kennedy. They couldn’t.