General Assembly enters final weeks with full schedule
Indiana’s biennial budget is eligible to receive a second reading in the Senate Monday as the Indiana General Assembly enters the final weeks of its regular session.
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Bill adding magistrates, judges in 3 counties moves to governor
Legislation that will add more judicial officers in Hamilton, Hendricks and Owen counties passed unanimously out of the House of Representatives Tuesday.
Contentious Senate panel advances voucher expansion
A proposal to expand Indiana’s school voucher program moved to the full Senate on Tuesday, but not before opponents said the unknown costs and impact of the bill amounted to a fiscal cliff for the state and a bailout of private religious schools.
Kenley appears warm to boost in Odyssey funding
Senate Appropriations Chairman Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, on Thursday signaled he supported a boost in funding for the Odyssey case management system and other court technology functions, after proposed funding was reduced in the House budget plan.
Concerns about CHINS petitions raised during budget hearings
After the Indiana Department of Child Services made its presentation to the Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday, the discussion quickly turned to Child in Need of Services petitions.
Mother not denied due process by not having appointed counsel in CHINS case
While disappointed that a trial court did not follow through with the appointment of counsel for a mother regarding a child in need of services action, any error in that failure was harmless, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Thursday. It upheld the termination of mother J.A.’s parental rights to her son G.P.
Senators skeptical of funding Odyssey access for public defenders
Senate budget writers appeared skeptical of a request Thursday to spend more than $2.1 million over the next four years to give public defenders statewide the same access to case management systems that prosecutors, judges and others have in many counties.
Senate passes civil immunity, sentencing alternatives for young offenders bills
The Indiana Senate approved several pieces of legislation from the House this week, including a bill that would establish sentencing alternatives for certain offenders under the age of 18.
Criminal Code bill gets Senate hearing
Concerns over sentencing provisions and pleas for adequate funding dominated the Senate hearing on legislation overhauling the state’s criminal code.
Indiana solicitor general: ‘Good day’ for traditional marriage at SCOTUS
Indiana and other states against same-sex marriage appeared to make a strong impression on the U.S. Supreme Court justices Tuesday, Indiana Solicitor General Thomas Fisher said after watching arguments in Washington.
Tax cut dispute overshadowing Legislature’s work to lower state’s unemployment, Bosma tells lawyers
A public spat between the Legislature and governor’s office over tax cuts has become an overarching issue, but Indiana Speaker of the House Brian Bosma said the state should be focusing on job creation.
Voucher program stands, Indiana Supreme Court rules
Indiana’s school voucher program, considered the nation’s widest-reaching, is constitutional, the Indiana Supreme Court unanimously ruled Tuesday.
Indiana Supreme Court: school vouchers constitutional
Indiana’s school voucher program is constitutional, the Indiana Supreme Court unanimously ruled Tuesday.
Many efforts arise to address abandoned property, few go forward
State Sen. Jim Merritt wanted to help an eastside Indianapolis church gain possession of some long-abandoned, derelict houses, tear them down and establish a neighborhood park. But it turned out there wasn’t much the law allowed the church to do.
Lawmakers advance bill to aid courthouse restoration, but money is missing
Nearly every county seat in Indiana could benefit from a bill promoting historic courthouse renovation and maintenance projects. Only problem is, when lawmakers passed the legislation through the Senate they stripped out the money for it.
Tax clinic brings relief to homeowners fighting high assessments
At Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, the attorneys suspected there was a gap in pro bono tax help for owners of homes valued at $150,000 or less. They were looking for a volunteer opportunity so they organized the first ever Homeowner Property Tax Clinic.
White claims Brizzi ‘ignorant’ of law, jurors wowed by Super Bowl
Former Secretary of State Charlie White says his convictions on six charges ranging from vote fraud to theft should be tossed because they violated state and federal law. He also claims that his lawyer, former Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi “was ignorant of the law.”
Indiana Senate to hold hearings on crime bills
Two crime bills moving through the Indiana General Assembly are on the agenda for Senate hearings next week.
Cedar Lake allowed to dissolve Parks Department, board
A Lake Superior judge erred when she used Dillon’s Rule to determine the scope of the town of Cedar Lake’s legal authority to dissolve its park board and Parks Department, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Thursday. The proper legal inquiry is based on the state’s Home Rule Act.
Problem-solving courts, CHINS legislation return to house of origin
The Indiana Senate passed several House bills Tuesday, including legislation expanding when a person can participate in a problem-solving court program. The House of Representatives returned bills on children in need of services petitions and prosecutor pensions back to the Senate.