Disciplinary Actions – March 16, 2011
Read about recent disciplinary actions ordered by the Indiana Supreme Court.
Courts
Articles
Habeas proceeding stays execution
A federal judge has postponed the April execution of a St. Joseph County man convicted of killing his wife, her ex-husband, and her son.
High court taking public defender applications
The Indiana Supreme Court is now accepting applications for state public defender. The current state public defender, Susan Carpenter, is retiring in May.
AG wants trustee for casino revenue
Two days of court mediation are scheduled in mid-April for the long-running litigation concerning East Chicago casino revenue and economic development agreements, but the Indiana attorney general wants the city council to consider setting up a trusteeship for the millions of dollars generated through those agreements.
No bankruptcy abuse by ex-mayor
Reversing her earlier decision, U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee Nancy Gargula in the Northern District of Indiana determined March 7 that former East Chicago Mayor Robert Pastrick’s income is not too high to qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and his filing should not be considered to be an abuse of the process.
Court declines Medicaid appeal
A divided Indiana Supreme Court declined to accept a case asking whether Medicaid rejected applicants can include information on appeal that wasn’t included in their initial applications.
Bar Crawl – March 16, 2011
The Evansville Bar Association will celebrate Law Day 2011 in late April. On April 28, mock trials and a student lunch will take place; Applications for an October 2011 to October 2013 term on the Indiana State Bar Association board of governors are due April 1.
Encouraging diversity in CASA programs
Having volunteers and staff who can relate to families that interact with Court Appointed Special Advocates programs has proven invaluable to a number of county-level CASA programs in Indiana. Indianapolis-based Child Advocates Inc. received the National CASA Inclusion Award for its inclusion and diversity plan March 20 at the National CASA conference in Chicago.
New Southern District magistrate named
An Indianapolis employment law attorney has been chosen as the newest U.S. magistrate judge for the Southern District of Indiana.
Misdemeanant challenges voting lockout
When a former town council member in northern Indiana was sentenced to county jail for two months on a misdemeanor battery conviction, he didn’t realize that experience would take away his right to vote.
Indianapolis lawyer is trustee on multi-state livestock bankruptcy case
Before taking on a livestock bankruptcy case stretching into multiple states and encompassing millions of dollars, Indianapolis attorney James Knauer hadn’t had much exposure to the cattle industry.
7th Circuit reverses on relation back issue
A plaintiff attempting to sue his employer for breach of contract should have been able to file an amended complaint with relation back to the date of the original complaint in order to correct the defendant even though the statute of limitations had expired, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals concluded today.
Judges affirm insurer has no duty to defend
The Indiana Court of Appeals agreed with the trial court that a homeowner’s insurance policy is clear that the ingestion of methadone by a guest at his house and his subsequent injuries are excluded from the policy’s liability coverage.
Appeals court to hear arguments at Indy high school
The Indiana Court of Appeals will visit Pike High School in Indianapolis this week to hear arguments in a case in which a man appeals his drug dealing conviction.
High court taking applications for state public defender
The Indiana Supreme Court is now accepting applications for state public defender. The current state public defender, Susan Carpenter, is retiring in May.
7th Circuit takes girls’ basketball schedule case
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals will decide whether several Indiana school corporations discriminate against girls’ basketball teams by scheduling more of their games on weeknights as compared to the boys’ basketball games.
Trial court should decide educational credit time
A trial court judge should be the one to determine whether a defendant who completes an educational degree before sentencing is entitled to educational credit time, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled Thursday.
Attorney general files ‘notario publico’ civil suits
The Indiana Attorney General’s Office filed a pair of civil consumer deception lawsuits Wednesday against two non-attorneys for offering immigration services that constitute the unauthorized practice of law.
Comment sought on reappointment of magistrate judge
Members of the bar and the public are invited to comment as to whether United States Magistrate Judge Michael G. Naville of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, New Albany Division, should be reappointed to a new four-year term.
Judges order new trial following juror issue
A case involving the issue of a prosecutor’s use of a peremptory strike against an African-American member of the jury pool has appeared before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals for the third time. This time, the judges vacated the two defendants’ murder and robbery convictions and ordered a new trial.