Councilman to replace outgoing Indiana Senate leader
An Allen County councilman has been selected to fill the seat of the outgoing Republican leader of the Indiana Senate, President Pro Tem David Long, also of Fort Wayne.
Election
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Bitter fight over Kavanaugh shadows a conservative court
The moment conservatives have dreamed about for decades has arrived with Brett Kavanaugh joining the Supreme Court. But with it comes the shadow of a bitter confirmation fight that is likely to hang over the court as it takes on divisive issues, especially those dealing with politics and women’s rights.
State’s request for stay rebuffed in voter registration case
An attempt by the state of Indiana to squash discovery into its practice of maintaining voter rolls has been stopped by the Southern Indiana District Court, which pointed out to both parties that it has “extremely broad discretion in controlling discovery.” Judge Tanya Walton Pratt issued the order Friday in Common Cause Indiana v. Connie Lawson, et al., denying the state’s request to stay proceedings and discovery while the case is on interlocutory appeal.
Mueller shedding more attorneys in Russia investigation
Special counsel Robert Mueller is trimming more attorneys from his office, another sign his team of prosecutors is winding down parts of their investigation into potential ties between Russia and President Donald Trump’s campaign.
ISBA poll results favor retention of Slaughter, Altice
A new poll of Indiana State Bar Association members strongly supports keeping two state appellate judges on the bench, but Hoosiers will have the final say on their retention this November.
Trials adding up for West Virginia Supreme Court justices
The federal trial of a suspended West Virginia Supreme Court justice is starting a day after a colleague’s impeachment trial began in the state Senate. Jury selection is set to get under way Tuesday in the U.S. District Court in Charleston for Justice Allen Loughry, while an impeachment trial against Justice Beth Walker begins its second day on Tuesday.
Judge pro tem appointed to replace Lake Superior Judge Villalpando
A judge pro tempore has been appointed to perform the duties of Lake Superior Court judge Jesse M. Villalpando, whose name was recently removed from the Nov. 6 general election ballot. A Friday order announced the Lake Superior Court judge will take leave from the bench beginning today and will remain on leave for the duration of his elected term, while attorney Stephen A. Tyler will serve in his place as judge pro tem.
Kavanaugh faces crucial vote, White House eyes GOP senators
Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh faced a crucial vote Friday as a Senate panel decides whether to move his nomination on to the full Senate a day after he adamantly denied sexually assaulting Christine Blasey Ford, who insisted she’s “100 percent” certain he did.
Angry Kavanaugh denies Ford accusation, sees ‘disgrace’
Emotionally battling to rescue his Supreme Court nomination, Brett Kavanaugh on Thursday denied allegations that he’d sexually assaulted Christine Blasey Ford when both were high school students and told Congress the accusations and biting criticism by Democrats had “totally and permanently destroyed” his family and reputation.
Justices consider ouster of Yorktown clerk-treasurer
Choosing to forcibly remove an elected official from office is a weighty decision, one that requires government officials to go against the will of the voters — presumably for the public good. In theory, an impeachment occurs only when an elected officer has egregiously failed to perform his or her duties, leaving no choice but to force the official to vacate her office.
Senate concludes Kavanaugh hearing; confirmation likely
After two marathon days questioning Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, senators concluded his confirmation hearing Friday by listening to others talk about him — friends stressing his fairness and warmth but opponents warning he’d roll back abortion rights and shield President Donald Trump. Senators on the Judiciary Committee are likely to vote on Kavanaugh’s confirmation on Sept. 20 with a vote by the full Senate the following week.
Giuliani: Trump won’t answer obstruction questions
President Donald Trump will not answer federal investigators’ questions, in writing or in person, about whether he tried to block the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election, one of the president’s attorneys told The Associated Press.
Sessions to speak to law enforcement group in Indianapolis
United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions will visit Indianapolis on Thursday to speak at the 2018 Indiana Law Enforcement Conference. Sessions is scheduled to speak on the importance of Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Concern in White House over shortage of lawyers, press aides
Increasingly convinced that the West Wing is wholly unprepared to handle the expected assault from Democrats if they win the House in November, President Donald Trump’s aides and allies are privately raising alarm as his circle of legal and communications advisers continues to shrink.
Judges: N.C. congressional districts still partisan biased
Federal judges on Monday affirmed their earlier decision striking North Carolina’s congressional districts as unconstitutional because Republicans drew them with excessive partisanship. The Tarheel State is one of several in which lawsuits are challenging partisan gerrymandering.
Indiana’s election security plans don’t include new machines
Indiana’s top elections official is planning to use more than $7.5 million in federal funding to improve the state’s election security, but not to upgrade its voting machines. Indiana was among the states and territories to receive money from the $380 million approved by Congress amid ongoing threats from Russia and others.
Prosecutors grant immunity to longtime Trump finance chief
President Donald Trump’s finance chief, a confidant who has worked for the family’s real estate business since the early 1970s, was granted immunity in the federal probe of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Friday.
Justices remove Lake superior judge from retention ballot
The Indiana Supreme Court yanked a Lake Superior Court judge from the Nov. 6 retention ballot following his retirement announcement Friday that came after the court’s office of judicial administration requested a new judge be appointed due to alleged dereliction of duty.
Michael Cohen sets up GoFundMe page for legal costs
Michael Cohen is sticking his hand out and asking the public for help paying for his legal defense, and one anonymous donor already has ponied up $50,000. The fund had raised nearly $150,000 as of early Friday.
Leaker of secret report on Russian hacking gets 5 years
Former government contractor Reality Winner, who pleaded guilty to mailing a classified U.S. report to a news organization, was sentenced to more than five years Thursday as part of a plea deal. Prosecutors called it the longest sentence ever imposed for a federal crime involving leaks to the media.