Disciplinary Actions – 4/5/17
Read who’s been suspended or publicly reprimanded by the Indiana Supreme Court.
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Articles
Disbarred Merrillville lawyer to face second mail fraud trial
The federal government will try again next month to convince a jury that disbarred Merrillville attorney Robert Stochel should be found guilty of mail fraud for allegedly embezzling more than $330,000 from a receivership he administered.
Fewer offenders paying user fees
A money crunch hits probation and community corrections departments around Indiana as a result of less offenders paying fees.
Semifinalists set for second round of Supreme Court interviews
From a pool of 20 candidates to fill the upcoming vacancy on the Indiana Supreme Court after Justice Robert Rucker retires, a little over half remain after the first round of interviews with members of the Judicial Nominating Commission last month.
Lawyer stands behind his own rollover crash tests courts ruled inadmissible
New Albany attorney Dave Scott wanted to prove a point when he strapped himself behind the wheel of a 1999 Ford Explorer that was pushed down an embankment, violently rolling over multiple times. Just to be safe, he later buckled into another Explorer that again was sent careening roof over wheels, rolling three times.
ACLU, Planned Parenthood praise preliminary injunction against abortion law
Pro-choice advocates are celebrating a “major victory” for a woman’s right to choose Monday after a federal judge blocked a portion of an Indiana abortion regulation that would have required women to get an ultrasound at least 18 hours before an abortion procedure.
US Supreme Court rejects bid to revive ballot selfies ban
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected New Hampshire's bid to revive a law prohibiting voters from taking selfies pictures with their completed ballots.
Judge’s ruling ends civil suit against former Irwin Union bank officers
An Indianapolis judge has ruled in favor of three former Irwin Union Bank & Trust Co. executives, closing the book on a civil suit that the bank’s bankruptcy trustee originally filed in 2011.
White House no longer wants ABA evaluations for judicial spots
The decision by the Trump administration to no longer seek input from the American Bar Association on nominees to the federal bench does not mean the national organization of lawyers will be cut completely from the evaluation process.
Donnelly supports Gorsuch nomination to Supreme Court
Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly says he'll support the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Public-private partnership proposed for Indy justice center
Marion County’s proposed criminal justice center should be financed through a public-private partnership, the task force studying the proposal announced Friday.
Federal judge blocks another Indiana abortion regulation
A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction against an Indiana law requiring women to have ultrasounds at least 18 hours before having an abortion, holding that the regulation places an undue burden on low-income women.
Public-private partnership proposed for Indy justice center
Marion County’s proposed criminal justice center should be financed through a public-private partnership, the task force studying the proposal announced Friday.
Couples file reply brief in birth certificate dispute
The married female same-sex couples fighting Indiana’s birth certificate statute have filed their brief with the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Judge approves $25M Trump University settlement
A judge on Friday approved an agreement for President Donald Trump to pay $25 million to settle lawsuits over his now-defunct Trump University, ending nearly seven years of legal battles with customers who claimed they were misled by failed promises to teach success in real estate.
Indiana justices discipline suspended Chicago attorney
The Indiana Supreme Court has imposed reciprocal discipline on a Chicago-based attorney who is also licensed in Indiana after she was suspended from the practice of law in Illinois.
Trump appeals Hawaii judge’s new ruling blocking travel ban
President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday appealed the latest court ruling against his revised travel ban to the same court that refused to reinstate the original version.
Local Roche units sue pharmacies over alleged test-strip scheme
Two Indianapolis-based subsidiaries of Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche Group are accusing a group of pharmacies and supply houses of engaging in an elaborate scheme to defraud Roche of millions of dollars in sales on diabetes test strips.
Trump faces questions of interference in investigations
President Donald Trump is facing new questions about political interference in the investigations into Russian election meddling after reports that White House officials secretly funneled material to the chairman of the House intelligence committee.
Democratic Supreme Court opposition grows; Schumer warns GOP
Senate Democratic opposition to Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee swelled Friday as Democrats neared the numbers needed to block Judge Neil Gorsuch with a filibuster.