Naming of Indianapolis post office sought for ex-Sen. Lugar
Indiana’s congressional delegation is seeking to put former U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar’s name on a downtown Indianapolis post office.
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Republican caucus picks new Indiana House member
A former gubernatorial aide has been picked to replace a retiring member of the Indiana House who will represent a central Indiana district.
9th Circuit weighs if climate change violates children’s rights
In a Portland, Oregon, courtroom packed with environmental activists, federal judges wrestled Tuesday with whether climate change violates the constitutional rights of young people who have sued the U.S. government over the use of fossil fuels.
Cass County auditor loses appeal of contempt finding
A Cass County elected official who refused to pay out a payroll voucher has failed to convince the Indiana Court of Appeals to overturn the local trial court’s imposition of a contempt finding against her.
Cash held by state shutters domestic violence shelters
A much longer-than-ordinary delay funneling state and federal grant dollars through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute to domestic violence agencies has had dire results for many, causing at least one shelter for victims of abuse to close.
Indiana fetal disposition law upheld by U.S. Supreme Court
Indiana’s law mandating that fetal remains be either buried or cremated has been upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States in a per curiam opinion issued Tuesday that found the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals had “clearly erred” in overturning the law. However, in the same opinion, the Supreme Court let stand a ruling which blocked another Indiana law that would have prevented abortions based on the gender, race or genetic abnormality of the fetus.
Accused pediatrician’s medical license suspension extended
A Boone County pediatrician charged with sexually abusing three boys has had his medical license suspended for another 90 days. The Indiana Medical Licensing Board originally suspended 41-year-old Dr. Jonathon Cavins’ medical license in March for 90 days, until mid-June, but the board recently added another 90 days to the Jamestown man’s original suspension, meaning he’ll remain suspended until after his July trial.
Indiana prosecutor asks state police to investigate his office
The prosecutor in Vigo County says he’s fired the director of the child support division and asked for a police investigation of his office. But Prosecutor Terry Modesitt declined to offer details on the investigation, saying he wants to be “very generic” during an “ongoing investigation.”
‘Red flag law’ changes narrow language, information gaps
Indiana is considered a leader in the red flag law movement that allows firearms to be confiscated from people deemed dangerous. But with language that some experts considered overly broad and potentially unconstitutional, the Indiana General Assembly revisited that legislation, known as the Jake Laird Law, during the 2019 legislative session.
Crime sentences, vaping tax up for Indiana lawmaker panels
Indiana lawmakers will be looking at prescription drug prices, crime sentences and taxes on vaping liquids in the coming months. Those are among the more than 40 topics that leaders have assigned to committees ahead of next year’s General Assembly session.
Contamination at new Marion County justice center site raising concerns
An independent environmental assessment of the site for the new Marion County jail and courthouse has some judges questioning if the property will pose a health hazard to the people working and visiting the courts, but others are cautioning to not let fear dictate decision-making.
Gary lawsuit against gun makers may proceed, COA rules
A unanimous appellate panel has revived the city of Gary’s lawsuit against 10 handgun manufacturers, enabling the municipality to survive the Indiana General Assembly’s attempt to derail the legal action by amending the state’s Immunity Statute in 2015.
Carmel to take legal action against Lucas Estate in party controversy
Carmel plans to take legal action to stop Charlotte and Forrest Lucas from hosting events at their massive estate, the city announced in a press release Wednesday afternoon. The city said it plans to file requests for preliminary and permanent injunctions against the estate to prohibit the family from conducting a business at its private residential property.
Justice Department to turn over some Mueller documents
Easing some of the escalating tension between Congress and the White House, the House Intelligence Committee postponed efforts to enforce a subpoena against the Justice Department on Wednesday after officials agreed to hand over a cache of documents related to special counsel Robert Mueller’s Trump-Russia report.
‘American Taliban’ Lindh being released from Terre Haute prison after 17 years
The California man who became known as the “American Taliban” after his battlefield capture in Afghanistan in November 2001 is being released from a federal prison in Indiana. Thirty-eight-year-old John Walker Lindh has spent more than 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to providing support to the Taliban.
High court sides with Crow tribe member in hunting dispute
The United States Supreme Court is siding with a member of the Crow tribe who was fined for hunting elk in Wyoming’s Bighorn National Forest.
US: Flynn described efforts to interfere with cooperation
Former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn told the special counsel’s office that people connected to the Trump administration and Congress sought to influence his cooperation with the Russia investigation, and he provided a voicemail recording of one such communication, prosecutors said in a court filing made public Thursday.
Justices reject marijuana ‘pursuit of happiness’ appeal
The state’s high court will not partake in arguments that laws criminalizing marijuana violated a man’s right to the pursuit of happiness, snuffing out his challenge to Indiana’s pot prohibition.
Prisoner rights case challenges forced labor in private prisons
An inmate lawsuit filed against New Castle Correctional Facility seemingly marks the first time a judge has ruled that a private prison operator can be liable for human trafficking in a punitive setting.
Lugar leaves legacy of leadership and service
The Hoosier leader who became a statesman after transforming the city of Indianapolis is being remembered by the Indiana legal community for his intellect, integrity and kindness.