Ethics & Professional Responsibility

Bell & Grass: 3 things to know about attorneys’ social media

September 30, 2020 | James J. Bell and Stephanie L. Grass

Because our parents (who have trouble with remote controls) are now officially on Facebook, we can safely assume that close to all attorneys are using social media. Using social media is simply an inexpensive and convenient way to get the word out about your law firm. However, there is an element of risk that comes along with an attorney’s use of social media. These risks were highlighted in July, when the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission listed social media’s many “minefields.”

Special judge steps down in fired Cathedral teacher case

September 25, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

Asserting the Archdiocese of Indianapolis made claims that are “irrelevant, inaccurate, misleading or make incorrect inferences,” the Marion Superior Court denied the church’s attempt to remove the special judge appointed to preside over the case involving the firing of a gay teacher at Cathedral High School. The judge did step aside, however, citing personal reasons.

Supreme Court permits cameras in court year-round for adoption celebrations

September 25, 2020 | IL Staff

Indiana families celebrating the adoption of a new child into their families will now be able to capture the moments of that union in court via camera, no matter what time of year it is.

Supreme Court honors judicial officers for service, higher education

September 22, 2020 | IL Staff

The Indiana Supreme Court on Tuesday recognized judges and magistrates across the state for their commitment to higher education and longtime service.

Tightrope act: Judges balance social issues, impartiality

September 16, 2020 | Olivia Covington

Scenes from protests have dominated television screens for months. People of all ages, sizes, races, genders and backgrounds have participated in events calling for an end to racial inequality. But how do judges fit into the mix?

IndyBar: The Unique Relationship between Lawyers and Judges

September 16, 2020 | From IndyBar

As lawyers, many of our relationships are governed by our rules of professional conduct. For the most part, these rules place burdens, limits and duties on us. The judge-lawyer relationship, however, is governed by interlocking rules from both sides.

Bar applicants ace August 2020 exam

September 8, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

Indiana’s unprecedented bar exam that was reformatted and delayed until August 2020 because of the coronavirus has turned in a pass rate that tops the previous four years. Almost three-quarters of those who took the remote test passed, according to the list released Tuesday.

Allen County offers court staff implicit bias training

August 28, 2020 | IL Staff

Allen Circuit and Superior Courts and Fort Wayne United will collaborate in implicit bias training for court staff at a session Tuesday at the Embassy Theatre in Fort Wayne.

Watchdog groups charge Republican Convention appearances broke Hatch Act

August 28, 2020

Two White House officials violated the Hatch Act by participating in choreographed events that were aired during this week’s Republican National Convention, according to two separate ethics complaints filed by government watchdog groups.

Advisory opinion: Judges can advise family members behind the scenes

August 20, 2020 | Olivia Covington

Indiana judges can advise family members on legal issues, but they must do so in a behind-the-scenes way that does not “trade on the prestige” of their office, a judicial ethics opinion issued Thursday says.

Whitestown attorney suspended from practice of law for noncooperation

August 19, 2020 | IL Staff

The Indiana Supreme Court has suspended a Whitestown lawyer from the practice of law for his noncooperation with the disciplinary commission.

Will missing in estate fraud suit against disgraced lawyer, assistant

August 7, 2020 | Dave Stafford

The original will at the center of a six-figure estate fraud case is missing, according to recent court filings in a civil lawsuit. Charities alleging the law firm that handled the estate absconded with the money also have subpoenaed the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission for records in the related ethics case that led to the recent resignation of attorney and one-time judge Robert Monfort.

Indianapolis attorney convicted of OWI suspended for 90 days

July 27, 2020 | IL Staff

An Indianapolis attorney has been suspended for 90 days with automatic reinstatement following his conviction of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and several violations of the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct related to client representation.

Merrillville attorney’s discipline converted to indefinite suspension

July 27, 2020 | IL Staff

Indiana Supreme Court justices have indefinitely suspended a Lake County lawyer who was suspended earlier this year for failing to cooperate with the disciplinary commission concerning a grievance against him.

Disciplinary commission warns of social media slip-ups that can violate rules

July 13, 2020 | IL Staff

Lawyers must proactively police and amend their social media pages to ensure third-party comments don’t break ethical rules, a new advisory opinion from the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission says.

AG Hill terminated as defendant in groping accusers’ federal lawsuit

June 11, 2020 | Olivia Covington

Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill has won a victory in the continued fallout of the sexual misconduct allegations against him, successfully moving a federal judge to dismiss him as a defendant in a civil lawsuit brought against him and the Indiana Legislature. Also, the state lawmaker who helped initiate the complaint has been dismissed as a plaintiff.

Lawsuit on suspended AG Hill’s fate stalls

June 11, 2020 | Associated Press and IL Staff

A lawyer maintains the Indiana attorney general’s office is trying to stymie a court fight on whether Republican Attorney General Curtis Hill can be ousted from office while his law license remains suspended until next week for groping four women during a party.

Bell & Grass: When silence isn’t golden: The ethics ‘boom shakalaka’ defense

May 26, 2020 | James Bell and Stephanie Grass

Under normal circumstances, we would try to fill this column with something useful. We would try to give you tips that may help your practice, and we would hope that our column would give you a teensy-weensy bit of knowledge that might help you avoid an ethical problem down the road. However, these are not normal circumstances, so we feel like offering something a little different.

AG Hill vows to stay in campaign as he seeks GOP support

May 13, 2020 | Olivia Covington

As he prepares to begin a 30-day suspension of his law license, Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is doubling down on his campaign efforts and making his case for reelection as he courts delegates for next month’s Indiana Republican Convention.

AG Hill’s 30-day suspension raises eligibility questions

May 13, 2020 | Olivia Covington

For the first time in Indiana history, the elected attorney general has been suspended. But what the discipline means for Attorney General Curtis Hill remains to be seen.

Articles