Judge resigns, Surpreme Court bans from bench
The Indiana Supreme Court has accepted the resignation of a suspended city court judge accused of theft. The judge is also
permanently banned from judicial office.
Courts
Articles
Legal process on mental illness isn’t yet where it should be
Courts nationally began in the mid-1990s to focus on mental illness and how the judiciary could fine-tune what it does to
better address that issue. But many within the Hoosier legal community say that the criminal justice system hasn’t gone far
enough in the past decade, and both the courts and society are a long way from where they need to be on addressing mental
illness.
Agencies examine UPL
Long before he became Greenwood’s police chief, attorney Joe Pitcher recalls sitting as a special judge in town court and
facing an Unauthorized Practice of Law case that may be one of few like it in Indiana.
RICO case against former East Chicago mayor nets $108M in damages
A federal judge has ordered an ex-mayor and top allies to pay more than $108 million in damages for a voting scandal a decade
ago, but in doing so he’s rejected the Indiana Attorney General’s most novel and far-reaching legal arguments in a landmark
civil racketeering case centered on public corruption in East Chicago.
Legislature’s final days bring up merit selection, out-of-state placement issues
Hoosier lawyers and judges were kept on the edge of their seats as the Indiana General Assembly navigated its final days of
the session, reviving talk on two issues that have significant impact on the state’s judiciary and legal system.
German law student chooses Indianapolis firm for unique internship
During the early months of the year you might have found Andreas Wissman clerking at an Indianapolis firm, having dinner at
a state appellate judge’s home, observing a civil or criminal trial in federal court, or even paging at the Indiana Statehouse.
But the well-versed 28-year-old law student isn’t a permanent part of the Hoosier legal community.
Juvenile justice filmmaker lauded
Calamari Productions and MSNBC will receive the Alliance for Women in Media’s 2010 Gracie Allen Award for an outstanding series
at the organization’s 35th anniversary gala event in May in Hollywood.
DTCI: An updated to Employment Non-discriminaiton Act
ENDA has stalled in Congress since it was first introduced in 1994. The current version of the bill was originally introduced in the summer of 2009 by U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) (H.R. 2981, H.R. 3017, S. 1584). The House Education and Labor Committee held a full committee hearing on the bill in September 2009, […]
Legislature, courts navigate uncertainty about registry laws
Hoosier lawmakers are revising state law following the confusion created by an Indiana Supreme Court ruling last year, which
involves how convicted sex offenders can be removed from a statewide registry if they believe registration wasn't required
at the time of their conviction.
Lawmakers move court-funding bills
In the last days of the legislative session, lawmakers addressed funding proposals in HB 1154 on converting Marion County commissioners into magistrates and using a $35 fee on traffic infractions to pay for this; SB 307 that would allow a $50 fee on Bartholomew County traffic infractions to pay for a new Superior Court there; and SB 399 on capping traffic violation fines statewide.
Family courts for pro se parents
While family courts have been around in Indiana for the last decade, the counties that have them continue to make changes to improve access to justice to all litigants who are in the system.
Legal communities in Columbus and Madison deal with fires
Major fires disrupted and displaced attorneys last year in two different cities in southern Indiana. While neither of the original structures are near completion, life is more or less back to normal in Madison and Columbus.
Judges see more cases that involve veterans
For a little more than a year, Grant Superior Judge Mark Spitzer has presided over his local drug court and
has witnessed what he describes as remarkable results from the problem-solving court model.
Court considers broadening emotional distress ‘Bystander Rule’
Parties are waiting for the Supreme Court's decision following arguments in November in a case where a trial court granted and the Court of Appeals affirmed an award for emotional distress above and beyond the capped amount in the Adult Wrongful Death Statute as defined by Indiana Code 34-23-1-2.
Courts coping with tough times
No one needs to tell Johnson Circuit Judge Mark Loyd how tough times are for the state's court system.
Appellate Clerk’s Office no longer sending rulings via the Postal Service.
Appellate attorneys no longer receive a mailed hard copy of any order issued by Indiana's highest courts. Instead, those lawyers are now receiving documents in an e-mail.
Little court guidance on repressed memory litigation results in trial court split
Reaching into a person's mind to revive repressed memories is an issue that's settled law in one sense,
but what remains unsettled is how such memories are used during litigation and whether a lawsuit should be tossed or allowed
to proceed to trial.
Praising new judicial selections
The Hoosier legal community is publicly praising the newest nominees for the state's federal bench as good choices, particularly for those interested in seeing a more diverse judiciary.
Sidebars: Pancake house offers delightful fare
When I travel, all intentions of eating healthy or not eating a lot go right out the window. When I travel with someone who has the same affinity for food, it is even worse. When I travel with my partner Jim Voyles, I make sure I wear pants with extra room because it is going to be a pig-fest all day long as it was on our recent trip to Michigan City.
Bill seeks to repeal placements statute
Lawmakers are considering legislation that would repeal a last-minute 2009 special session provision that gave the Indiana Department of Child Services key control in deciding whether juveniles should be placed outside the state.