Suit against Allen Co. sheriff transferred to federal court
A lawsuit alleging a northeastern Indiana sheriff violated a teenage boy’s constitutional rights during an altercation last year at a festival has been transferred to federal court.
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Rush on race, equity: ‘We can and must do better’
Citing failures of courts and justice systems to address racial inequities, Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush on Friday issued a statement promising change as protests over the death of George Floyd continued in streets in the Hoosier state and across the nation.
COA affirms for neighbors in Allen County easement dispute
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed the grant of summary judgment to a couple in an easement dispute with their neighbors, finding the doctrine of res judicata did not help the latter.
Developer’s cert petition dismissed in cell tower dispute
An appellate panel has reversed the denial of a cell site developer’s petition for writ of certiorari, only to find its failure to timely file a record or request an extension of time required dismissal of the petition.
Appeals court grants rehearing petition for Miranda clarification
A man convicted for two counts of murder had his petition for rehearing granted Friday, but solely for an appellate panel to clarify its factual recitation of his Miranda waiver.
Man charged in weekend murder during Indianapolis violence
A man was charged with murder Thursday in the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old during weekend violence in downtown Indianapolis that followed protests over the death of George Floyd and police treatment of African Americans.
Special prosecutor appointed in IMPD shooting of black man
A judge on Thursday appointed a special prosecutor to investigate possible criminal charges in the shooting death of 21-year-old Dreasjon “Sean” Reed almost a month ago by Indianapolis police.
COA affirms for biological father in paternity dispute
A mother contesting a paternity petition concerning her child could not convince the Indiana Court of Appeals on Thursday that her motion for summary judgment was wrongly denied.
Federal defenders decry ‘structural racism’ after George Floyd’s killing
A sweeping majority of the nation’s federal public defenders – including for the Southern District of Indiana – are calling with a unified voice for reforms of a criminal justice system they say “turns a blind eye to oppressive structural racism.”
Pandemic means a silent June at the Supreme Court
The coronavirus pandemic has kept justices of the United States Supreme Court from their courtroom since March and forced them to change their ways in many respects. Now, in their season of weighty decisions, instead of the drama that can accompany the announcement of a majority decision and its biting dissent, the court’s opinions are being posted online without an opportunity for the justices to be heard.
Grandfather’s sexual misconduct with a minor conviction upheld
A man who sexually abused his granddaughter and tried to allege that her father could have been the “source” of her resultant pregnancy had his convictions upheld by the Indiana Court of Appeals.
7th Circuit affirms firearms convictions in light of key SCOTUS ruling
In what it called its first precedential decision concerning convictions upon jury verdicts in federal firearms cases after a key US Supreme Court decision, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the convictions of three men who argued that their indictments and jury instructions were missing an element.
Divided 7th Circuit reinstates manufacturing sales commission dispute
A divided panel of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated a sales commission dispute, though the dissenting judge would hold that the Northern District of Indiana’s grant of summary judgment was proper.
Supreme Court declines to take Bernie Madoff trustee case
The Supreme Court of the United States is leaving in place a ruling that allows the trustee recovering money for investors in the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme to pursue more than $4 billion that went to overseas investors.
New judge for suit seeking to remove AG Hill might come from justices
The Marion County clerk — or maybe the Indiana Supreme Court — will have to appoint a new judge to hear a case challenging Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill’s eligibility to continue to serve in office as he serves his suspension from the practice of law related to accusations of groping and sexual misconduct.
Supreme Court expands trial court tolling amid COVID-19 backlog
The Indiana Supreme Court is taking steps to help trial courts handle the coming backlog of cases, extending certain emergency operations due to the COVID-19 public health emergency through as late as January 2021.
Supreme Court upholds Puerto Rico financial oversight board
The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the oversight board established by Congress to help Puerto Rico out of a devastating financial crisis that has been exacerbated by the coronavirus outbreak, recent earthquakes and damage from Hurricane Maria in 2017. The justices reversed a lower court ruling that threatened to throw the island’s recovery efforts into chaos.
Ex-Indiana prisons worker charged with murder in stabbings
A former Indiana Department of Correction worker is charged with murder and other offenses in the stabbing earlier this month of three people, two of them fatally, according to documents released Friday during a hearing.
SCOTUS rejects challenge to COVID-19 limits on church services
A divided Supreme Court on Friday rejected an emergency appeal by a California church that challenged state limits on attendance at worship services that have been imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Appeals court again denies injunction in Lake Monroe logging case
The Indiana Court of Appeals has again rejected a Monroe County resident’s requested preliminary injunction that would prevent logging from taking place on land near his home.