COA affirms juvenile’s reckless homicide, gun possession convictions
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed a LaPorte County juvenile’s sentence and conviction after he admitted to accidentally shooting and killing a friend.
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Child porn convictions affirmed over evidence, double jeopardy arguments
An Indianapolis man’s conviction on six counts of possession of child pornography was affirmed Thursday when the Indiana Court of Appeals rejected his claims that the evidence was insufficient and that his convictions violated his constitutional protections against double jeopardy.
State high court arguments focus on parental presence at teen’s trial
The Indiana Supreme Court heard what one justice called an “interesting argument” in a case of first impression Thursday morning, considering whether a juvenile’s mother’s presence was essential to his defense when he was tried as an adult.
Off-duty Kroger employee’s theft conviction for ‘mislaid’ money reversed
The Indiana Court of Appeals has reversed a ruling against an off-duty grocery store employee after he took money from a self-checkout machine, finding his conviction could not stand under an existing theft statute.
Few legal wins so far as Trump team hunts for proof of fraud
During a Pennsylvania court hearing this week on one of the many election lawsuits brought by President Donald Trump, a judge asked a campaign lawyer whether he had found any signs of fraud from among the 592 ballots challenged. The answer was no.
COA reaffirms decision in statement suppression dispute
The Indiana Court of Appeals has reaffirmed its previous ruling that upheld suppression of statements made to police in a child molesting case after granting a request for rehearing by the state.
High court rejects appeal from Florida death row inmate
The Supreme Court of the United States has rejected an appeal from a Florida death row inmate whose conviction was based in part on the testimony of a controversial jailhouse informant.
User-friendly data: Lawyer-technologists launch new software to address e-discovery problems
A developer of software that comprehensively tracks e-discovery progress in real time describes his team’s inspiration this way: “What we tried to do was take away some of the barriers because people go to law school to be lawyers not to learn software or how to put together Excel spreadsheets … We wanted to create something that was the path of least resistance for people. They just log in and get all the critical information they need.”
In ‘painful’ case posing ‘terrifying precedent’, COA reverses mom’s TPR, lets dad’s stand
The Indiana Court of Appeals in a decision admonishing the Indiana Department of Child Services has reversed the termination of a mother’s parental rights to her son, while upholding the termination of his father’s parental rights in a separate case.
COA upholds sentence in domestic battery, tasing case
Sentences totaling more than seven years have been affirmed for an Allen County man who tased a woman he began dating after meeting on Facebook, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday.
Killer’s appeal rejected in rural Dubois Co. stabbing death
A man convicted of stabbing his girlfriend to death in rural Dubois County lost his appeal Tuesday that challenged the evidence admitted and excluded at his trial and the manner in which the jury was instructed.
Justices: Drug test results properly admitted in parental rights termination hearing
A couple’s argument that their drug test results amounted to hearsay and should not have been admitted in court failed to convince the Indiana Supreme Court, which found the drug test reports were admissible under the records of a regularly conducted business activity exception.
COA ruling gives Dead Man’s Statute longer reach
Under the Indiana Dead Man’s Statute, the deceased can tell no tales, but a recent decision by the state’s Court of Appeals has created uncertainty over when the survivors can speak, particularly where it concerns trusts.
Disciplinary commission discloses false statement in urging ex-prosecutor’s disbarment
A judge who recommended disbarment of the former Johnson County prosecutor for domestic violence has amended her report to the Indiana Supreme Court after being notified by a disciplinary commission attorney that he provided a false statement concerning key evidence.
COA affirms Madison County man’s 40-year armed robbery sentence
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed a man’s 40-year sentence for conviction of armed robbery, finding the trial court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing him or in granting his belated appeal.
COA affirms termination of mother’s parental rights
A Delaware County mother could not convince the Indiana Court of Appeals on Wednesday that a trial court erred in terminating her parental rights to her minor child with special needs. The appellate court found the termination was in the child’s best interest.
SCOTUS rejects petition to hear Indiana Right-to-Farm dispute
A protracted dispute between a concentrated animal feeding operation in Hendricks County and its neighbors ended Monday with the U.S. Supreme Court denying certiorari to the nearby homeowners who claimed the odor from the 8,000 hogs disrupted their lives and diminished their health.
Mail-in voting advocates alert 7th Circuit to dispute with state’s argument
Plaintiffs in Indiana’s vote by mail case are questioning the state’s assertion made this week in oral arguments to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that Hoosiers can request a special exemption from the Indiana Election Commission to cast an absentee ballot if they do not meet one of the law’s categories of who may vote by mail.
Supreme Court seeking comments on proposed rule changes
The Indiana Supreme Court is seeking public comment on several proposed amendments to the Indiana Rules of Court.
Allen County man’s 40-year sentence upheld for killing girlfriend’s toddler
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed a decades-long sentence for an Allen County man for his role in the death of his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son.