COA orders special prosecutor in Camm trial
The county prosecutor who signed and later cancelled a book deal about his involvement in the murder trial of David Camm will not be allowed to serve as prosecutor at Camm’s third trial.
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Supreme Court to hear Affordable Care Act challenges
In what’s expected to be a historic constitutional test over how much power the federal government has to require individual mandates for states, the Supreme Court of the United States will consider the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010.
Judges uphold juvenile’s adjudication
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the acceptance of a minor’s plea agreement that was not signed by either of his parents because the signature of the minor and his attorney on the plea agreement satisfied statutory requirements.
SCOTUS takes Indianapolis sewer payment case
The Supreme Court of the United States has granted certiorari in a case that questions whether the city of Indianapolis violated the federal Constitution in how it handled refunds for residents who paid assessments on local sewer projects.
Supreme Court to hold arguments in St. Joseph County
The Indiana Supreme Court will visit Indiana University South Bend and Notre Dame Law School Monday to hear arguments in two cases, including one in which a teen was sentenced to life without parole for murdering his brother.
Lawsuit filed against former coach, swim organizations
A victim molested by the former swim coach at an Indianapolis high school and club team is suing the former coach, the school corporation and two swimming organizations, arguing several people knew of the coach’s past inappropriate contact with minors and did nothing about it.
Judge: fundamental error rule doesn’t apply to civil cases
An Indiana Court of Appeals judge disagreed with the decision of his fellow panel members to allow a man committed to a psychiatric unit to argue the trial court committed fundamental error by not issuing an order scheduling a hearing within three days of receiving the petition for involuntary commitment.
Barnes study committee to vote on final report
The interim subcommittee established as a result of the Indiana Supreme Court ruling in Barnes v. State will meet Thursday to vote on the adoption of a final report.
Appellate court finds mother wasn’t in contempt
The Indiana Court of Appeals agreed with a mother that the Clark Circuit Court erred in finding her in contempt for not putting her teenage daughter on a plane to Florida to visit the teen’s father over Christmas break. The appellate court did agree with the trial court that the mom should have to pay for another flight to visit the father.
Indiana has new ALJ chapter
Two state government attorneys have founded the Indiana chapter of the National Association of Administrative Law Judiciary. Their goal is to organize and connect those individuals in the state who are working in an ALJ capacity.
Indiana bankruptcy filings decrease in 2011
Indiana saw fewer bankruptcies for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2011, than it did the year before, with the state improving its national ranking based on case filings.
Justices accept 1 transfer case, deny 9
The Indiana Supreme Court granted transfer to a divorce case last week and denied nine other cases during its weekly private conference.
4th annual symposium to look at civil rights
Civil rights in the Southern District will be the topic of the fourth annual Court History Symposium presented by the Historical Society for the Southern District of Indiana Nov. 18.
Disciplinary Actions – 11/9/11
Read who’s been suspended and who’s had their suspensions terminated.
Federal Bar Update: Comments sought for changes to local rules
John Maley writes about changes coming to local rules in each District Court.
Appellate court rules man can challenge med mal cap’s constitutionality
An Indianapolis man will get an evidentiary hearing on whether the state’s $1.25 million cap on medical malpractice awards is unconstitutional.
Improving a child’s access to counsel
A proposed draft rule would change waiver procedures in the juvenile justice system.
Rookie year on the Supreme Court
New Indiana Justice Steven David is settled but still finding his niche.
Adding UPL to Indiana RICO statute
An Indiana Supreme Court case involving an estate planning “trust mill” has led to a policy discussion about whether certain types of unauthorized practice of law should rise above a misdemeanor crime and involve a racketeering component.
Indiana can’t cap Medicaid coverage of dental services
A northern Indiana federal judge has ruled that the state must fully cover dental services that are medically necessary for Medicaid participants, and it can’t deny coverage exceeding a certain amount because that would prevent some low-income individuals the ability to get needed care.