Governor names new public access counselor
Gov. Mitch Daniels has appointed Joseph Hoage as Indiana public access counselor. He replaces Andrew Kossack, who recently resigned to take a position with the Indiana Department of Education.
Government
Articles
Appellate judges rule on court warrant officer’s claim
The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled an Anderson City Court judge didn’t wrongly reassign a police warrant officer from his courtroom because the two didn’t share an employee-employer relationship that would allow for a suit under the Indiana Wage Claim Statute.
Circuit Court upholds ban on pen-pal solicitation by inmates
The First Amendment rights of Indiana inmates aren’t being violated by a ban instituted by the Department of Correction on advertising for pen-pals and receiving materials from resources that allow people to advertise for pen-pals, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals held Tuesday.
Fight over judicial salaries raises separation of powers questions
Questions arise as to whether legislative or executive branch tinkering with judicial salaries interferes with the courts’ constitutional duties and infringes on judicial independence.
Ruling against local planning, zoning officials has statewide implications
Deciding where the planes fly in or out of an airport and how land and buildings are used on airport grounds became the pivotal issue in a recent lawsuit in Marion Superior Court.
Foster Family day July 20 at museum
The Indiana Department of Child Services is teaming up with the Indianapolis Colts and The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis for an event for Indiana foster families July 20. Licensed foster families will receive free admission and will be able to visit with the Colts’ mascot and get autographs from Colts cheerleaders.
Attorneys to get big cut of $300K OmniSource settlement
An OmniSource executive says the company wouldn't have made the settlement with the Marion County prosecutor if it knew more than a third of the cash wouldn't be going to Indianapolis police for training programs.
Criminal Law and Sentencing committee meeting rescheduled
The Criminal Law and Sentencing Policy Interim Study Committee’s July 14 meeting has been rescheduled for 1 p.m. July 28 in Room 431 of the Indiana Statehouse.
AG sues to recover $18,000 from LaGrange County clerk
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller has filed a civil suit against Beverly S. Elliott, LaGrange County clerk, seeking more than $18,000 in misappropriated funds. Elliot is also facing criminal charges following an investigation by the State Board of Accounts and the Indiana State Police.
Judge blocks Medicaid fee cut to pharmacies
A federal judge in Indianapolis has temporarily blocked the state from cutting the fees it pays to pharmacists for dispensing Medicaid prescriptions.
The merits of medical patents
In April, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit heard arguments in a case that raises fundamental questions about the patentability of human genes. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to take on a patent case in which the central issue is the patentability of a medical process. Both cases could have far-reaching effects – in medicine, in law, and in academia.
Federal anti-streaming bill has broad implications
Putting a video on YouTube and embedding that video onto another site could be all it takes to commit a felony under a statutory amendment before the U.S. Senate.
Legal trend utilizes AG experience
When he was the state’s top prosecutor, former Indiana Attorney General Jeff Modisett saw the beginning of a trend that’s now become a focus of his practice.
Lawmakers examine issues raised in Barnes
As the Indiana Supreme Court decides whether it will revisit a controversial ruling that’s generated public protest since it came down in May, legislators are discussing what they might do to reduce the impact of the justices’ ruling on resisting police entry into one’s home.
I-9 audits present legal concerns for businesses
Indiana’s chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business issued a press release June 23, urging Indiana businesses to prepare for I-9 audits. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has stepped up its audits of businesses nationwide in an effort to crack down on the employment of unauthorized immigrant workers.
New law allows for restricted record access for certain crimes
A change in state law that starts Friday allows non-violent offenders to have their criminal records sealed for misdemeanor and Class D felonies. An Indianapolis man is already filing a petition asking the Marion Superior Court to limit access to records involving two money conversion convictions.
Permanent retroactivity applied to crack-cocaine sentence reductions
Thousands of federal inmates nationally and more than 200 from Indiana could get time shaved off their prison terms for crack-cocaine convictions, after the U.S. Sentencing Commission voted to make reductions retroactive starting later this year.
Lawmakers discuss scope of police entry case
A Bedford lawyer-legislator says a recent Indiana Supreme Court decision on resisting police entry has resulted in more feedback from attorneys and residents statewide than he’s experienced since the daylight saving time debate.
Justices: Child placement statutes are constitutional
In a much-anticipated ruling, the Indiana Supreme Court has ruled three statutes relating to juvenile judges’ authority on out-of-state placement cases are constitutional and that the Department of Child Services has statutory power to consider costs when considering those placements.
Attorney general appealing Planned Parenthood decision
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller has filed a notice of appeal regarding the recent decision by U.S. Judge Tanya Walton Pratt to halt enforcement of a new law which withholds funding from abortion providers.