Fewer filings, newer trends
The number of cases filed in the state courts dropped slightly in 2009 from the previous year, but the nearly two million filings still amounted to the second-highest number ever for Indiana.
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Social-services recipients entitled to injunctive relief
The Family and Social Services Administration’s adverse action notices pertaining to public benefits programs that don’t name specific missing eligibility documents don’t comport with the requirement of procedural due process, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Friday.
Attorney general wants to rewrite civil forfeiture law
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller is asking legislators to make changes to the state’s civil forfeiture law during the 2011 session. He wants to work with lawmakers to create and pass a bill that establishes a formula on how forfeitures would be distributed and enacts stricter regulations on the use of outside counsel to file civil forfeiture actions on behalf of prosecutors.
ALJ didn’t inform vocational expert on the totality of claimant’s limitations
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a District Court’s upholding of the Social Security Administration’s denial of a woman’s application for benefits because the Administrative Law Judge erred by not including her moderate limitation on concentration, persistence, and pace in the hypothetical he posed to a vocational expert.
AG’s involvement questioned in prosecutor forfeiture suit
The Indiana Attorney General’s Office plans to “zealously defend” 78 prosecutors being sued over civil forfeiture collection practices, meaning the state courts will likely have to analyze not only the merits of that issue but also whether two separate state statutes restrict how Indiana’s top attorney can intervene in this taxpayer-filed qui tam lawsuit.
Death and tax uncertainty
These days, it feels as though Uncle Sam is laughing at estate planning and wealth transfer attorneys.
General Assembly ready for new session’s business
With a new legislative session on the horizon, the Indiana General Assembly is going to be one to watch as it likely tackles a multitude of issues influencing the state’s legal community.
Programs target older foster youth
For foster youth who are about to age out of the system or have already done so, there often is no support system. That decreases one’s chance of getting a good education and increases the likelihood that the former foster youth will end up homeless or become involved in illegal activity and be arrested after aging out.
Johnsen speaks publicly for first time in 2 years
Two years ago this month, an Indiana University Maurer School of Law professor was named to the transition team of President Barack Obama, not quite knowing where that experience would lead.
AG holds first criminal justice summit on death penalty costs
In what was the first of its kind in Indiana, the state Attorney General’s Office held a criminal justice summit at the University of Notre Dame this month to examine the critical issues the legal system faces from capital cases where the death penalty is utilized.
Court programs, economy among focuses of foreclosure conference
When it comes to the problem of mortgage foreclosures in Indiana, there appears to be no end in sight, at least not yet.
Johnsen to discuss confirmation process, rule of law Friday
For the first time since she was nominated to a post in the Department of Justice, Dawn Johnsen will give a public lecture at Indiana University Maurer School of Law in Bloomington on Friday.
Senate Judiciary delays nomination vote
The Senate Judiciary Committee has postponed voting on the nomination of U.S. Judge David F. Hamilton to the 7th Court of Appeals because some senators are concerned about the Indianapolis jurist's record on the bench.
Legislators meet for Organization Day
Today is the 2011 Organization Day for Indiana lawmakers, typically a ceremonial day. But one tradition was slightly altered due to Secretary of State Todd Rokita’s absence.
ATC chairman stepping down
P. Thomas Snow, a former judge in Wayne County, is resigning as chairman of the Alcohol & Tobacco Commission.
New national act would address adult guardianship matters
New law changes are on the horizon in order to create more uniform guardianship laws throughout the country and reduce conflicts between states.
Human trafficking cases on the rise in Indiana
While it may still be an issue under the radar of many Hoosiers, human trafficking seems to be thriving in Indiana.
‘Greening Statehouse’ event at IU-Indy
The Hoosier Environmental Council’s third annual “Greening the Statehouse” happens Saturday at Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis.
Judges’ right to bear arms (sometimes)
The Commission on Courts didn’t recommend any state statute changes that would have allowed judges authority to carry weapons in places county ordinances or laws currently prevent.
Ukrainian lawyers in Indiana
On their recent visit to Indiana, six delegates from the Ukraine in various legal roles learned how similar and different their legal system is compared to the justice system in the U.S. by visiting and observing it firsthand.