Federal judge reaffirms ban on political ‘robocalls’ in Indiana
Just weeks ahead of Indiana’s presidential primary, a federal judge reaffirmed Indiana’s ban on automated telephone calls for political purposes.
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Grassley at peace with obstructionist stance on high court pick
The Iowa Republican senator who chairs the Judiciary Committee has been at the center of a storm of pressure from the White House, Democrats and grassroots activists across the country to get him to crack and allow the U.S. Supreme Court nomination of Merrick Garland to go forward.
Civil forfeiture defendants file motion to dismiss
Defendants in a civil forfeiture complaint lodged earlier this year in Marion Superior Court have filed a motion to dismiss on the grounds the plaintiffs and the court lack standing.
7th Circuit: State immune from FLSA suit
The 7th Circuit affirmed that Indiana was immune from a Federal Labor Standards Act lawsuit brought by two Department of Child Services Employees. The court said the state did not give consent for the suit, and thus had 11th Amendment immunity under the U.S. Constitution.
Cost to shield Indiana lawmakers over emails hits $160,000
The legal fight to shield Indiana lawmakers from having to release email correspondence with lobbying groups has cost taxpayers at least $160,000.
COA dismisses improperly filed preliminary injunction motion
The Indiana Court of Appeals dismissed a motion for preliminary injunction against the state’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit filed by Pain Medicine and Rehabilitation Center and Anthony Alexander after it found PMRC’s motion in the trial court was not procedurally correct.
Panama lawyers at center of offshore scandal make odd couple
The lawyers at the center of an uproar over the hidden financial dealings of the world's wealthy are an odd pairing of a German-born immigrant and a prize-winning Panamanian novelist whose books sometimes mirror the seedy world of politics he's come across in his work.
How a spy probe wound up as a child pornography prosecution
At issue in the case is how the government uses evidence derived through the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and under what circumstances that information should be made available to defendants, particularly when it winds up repurposed for a routine criminal prosecution that has nothing to do with national security.
Class-action suit challenges US government’s no-fly list
On Tuesday, a Muslim civil rights group filed a class-action lawsuit in federal court in Alexandria on behalf of thousands of Americans who have been placed on the terror watch list. The suit seeks unspecified monetary compensation.
High school student wants to change Indiana Constitution
As Megan Stoner prepares for high school graduation, she is focused on finding a way to "begin her legacy" by working with legislators to author a bill that would lower the age that people are eligible to run for office from 25 to 21 in the Senate and 21 to 18 in the House of Representatives.
National group recognizes Indiana for criminal justice reform
Indiana is getting a little love on social media Monday for efforts in recent years to reform its criminal justice system. The U.S. Justice Action Network is including the Hoosier state in its national campaign “30 States, 30 Days” to prompt Congress to pass legislation reforming the federal justice system.
Indiana mandates concussion training for public coaches
New Indiana law requires coaches to complete a course on spotting the symptoms of concussions. Coaches who finish the training will be granted civil immunity from being sued for student injuries.
Major overhaul to city’s zoning code takes effect
The city’s long-awaited update to its decades-old zoning code, known as Indy Rezone, went into effect on Friday.
Mississippi governor gets bill allowing denial of service to gays
The Mississippi House is sending Republican Gov. Phil Bryant a bill that would let government employees and private businesses cite religious beliefs to deny services to same-sex couples who want to marry.
Lawsuit: Fort Wayne cleanups violate rights of the homeless
Indiana's second-largest city faces a federal lawsuit alleging that it is violating homeless residents' constitutional rights by destroying tents, coats, blankets and other property seized during sweeps of homeless camps.
South Bend council votes in favor of expanded smoking ban
The South Bend Common Council has voted in favor of an expanded smoking ban, which may lead to a lawsuit if signed by the mayor.
States look to provide lawyers for the poor in civil cases
A flood of poor defendants representing themselves — often ineffectively — in dire cases involving eviction, foreclosure, child custody and involuntary commitment has led to a push in legislatures to expand rights to free lawyers in certain civil proceedings.
US drops Apple case after getting into terrorist’s iPhone
The U.S. said it has gained access to the data on an iPhone used by a terrorist and no longer needs Apple Inc.’s assistance, marking an end to a legal clash that was poised to redraw boundaries between personal privacy and national security in the mobile Internet age.
Garland holding first meeting with Republican senator
Merrick Garland was set to meet Tuesday with Republican Sen. Mark Kirk, marking the U.S. Supreme Court nominee's first courtesy call on a senator whose party leaders have vowed to hold no hearings or vote until a new president is chosen.
Report: Prosecutors rarely disciplined for misconduct
Prosecutors are rarely held accountable for misconduct and mistakes that have left innocent people imprisoned for crimes they didn't commit, according to report Tuesday by a nonprofit group that investigates possible wrongful convictions.