Zody to retire as state Democratic Party chair after GOP rout
Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody does not plan to seek another term as the leader of the party after years of tough election losses.
Indiana Attorney General
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Rokita wins Indiana attorney general race
Former Indiana Congressman Todd Rokita has claimed victory in the race for Indiana attorney general, securing about 66% of Hoosier votes compared to the nearly 34% won by former Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel with about 60% of the statewide vote counted.
Democrats aiming to grab Indiana Attorney General’s office
The race for the Indiana Attorney General’s Office between Republican Todd Rokita and Democrat Jonathan Weinzapfel is the most-contested statewide campaign for this year’s election ballot.
Weinzapfel: ‘The time is now’ to legalize pot in Indiana
Democratic Indiana attorney general candidate Jonathan Weinzapfel is calling for the full legalization of marijuana in Indiana, saying the time has come for the state to take a “common sense” approach to the substance.
Indiana AG candidate calls for Indiana to legalize pot
The Democratic candidate for Indiana attorney general is calling on the state to legalize marijuana, saying that doing so would reduce the state’s prison and jail populations and generate millions of dollars for public education.
AG Hill asks Supreme Court to slash costs in discipline case
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is pushing back against a request that he foot the bill for nearly $57,000 in expenses related to his attorney discipline process, arguing instead that he should only have to pay about one-third of the amount requested by the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission.
Rokita closes fundraising gap with Weinzapfel in AG race
The fundraising gap between Indiana attorney general candidates Todd Rokita and Jonathan Weinzapfel has closed, with Rokita finishing the third quarter of 2020 with a slight lead over his Democratic challenger. Both candidates are entering the final weeks of the race with a little more than $1 million, much of which has come from interest groups.
AG Hill: Holcomb violated constitution with COVID church closures
Gov. Eric Holcomb’s restriction on in-person religious gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic was a violation of the First Amendment, Attorney General Curtis Hill said in a new advisory opinion. His opinion comes despite recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings that have upheld state restrictions on churches imposed in response to the pandemic.
In abortion regulation suit, judge’s split opinion lets some claims proceed
Laws regarding the regulation of abortion clinics in Indiana that were challenged by the operators of a South Bend clinic that opened last year were upheld in part by a federal judge’s ruling, but the suit also was allowed to continue in part.
Indiana race opens up after attorney general’s troubles
Indiana Democrats are targeting the state attorney general’s race as their best chance to break the stranglehold Republicans have over state government.
Defunct Charlestown zoo owner arrested in New York
After more than three weeks at large, the owner of a former Charlestown zoo has been arrested in upstate New York. He faces extradition to Indiana to face criminal and civil proceedings.
Indiana attorney general candidates split over virus powers
Indiana’s attorney general candidates are divided over how the Republican governor has used the state’s emergency powers law to impose a mask mandate and other coronavirus-related executive orders that have stirred discord among conservative voters.
7th Circuit affirms restrictions on absentee voting; judge stays injunction in noon deadline case
The effort to allow all Hoosiers to vote by absentee ballot in the November presidential election has been blocked by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals which, in an echo of the state’s argument, found Election Day is too close to make any changes now. In a separate case, a judge temporarily stayed pending appeal an order blocking an Indiana law that requires absentee ballots be received by noon to be counted.
AG candidate profile: Weinzapfel says attorney general should be about policy, not politics
Democratic former Evansville Mayor and lawmaker Jonathan Weinzapfel said if elected attorney general, his actions would be based on policy, not politics, and Hoosiers’ best interests. Read Weinzapfel’s recent Q&A with Indiana Lawyer’s sibling publication, the Indianapolis Business Journal.
AG candidate profile: Rokita says he’ll be an ‘aggressive’ attorney general
Republican former Congressman and Secretary of State Todd Rokita vows to continue a conservative approach but would emphasize partnerships if elected attorney general. Read what Rokita had to say in a recent Q&A with Indiana Lawyer’s sibling publication, the Indianapolis Business Journal.
AG Hill appeals ruling blocking noon Election Day absentee receipt law
Attorney General Curtis Hill’s office is appealing a judge’s ruling that absentee ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 must be counted. Meanwhile, the state acknowledged in its filing that election officials are taking steps to count those ballots if the judge’s order stands.
Indiana attorney general may face bill over discipline case
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill could face a big bill from the disciplinary case stemming from allegations that he groped a state lawmaker and three other women during a party. The disciplinary commission has asked the Indiana Supreme Court to order Hill to pay more than $50,000 in costs related to the ethics investigation that resulted in his 30-day suspension.
Mail-in voting advocates alert 7th Circuit to dispute with state’s argument
Plaintiffs in Indiana’s vote by mail case are questioning the state’s assertion made this week in oral arguments to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that Hoosiers can request a special exemption from the Indiana Election Commission to cast an absentee ballot if they do not meet one of the law’s categories of who may vote by mail.
Charlestown zoo owner still at large as state moves for default judgment, dissolution
As the search for animals missing from an embattled Charlestown zoo continues, the state of Indiana is seeking default judgment and judicial dissolution that would formally end Wildlife in Need’s operations. Meanwhile, zoo owner Tim Stark remains at large following an arrest warrant issued in Marion County, as well as an additional warrant in Clark County.
Challenges to Indiana voting laws pile up in 7th Circuit, which will livestream one today
Indiana’s prohibition against no-excuse absentee voting goes before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday afternoon, with the plaintiffs trying to convince the appellate panel to reverse the district judge’s ruling and allow all registered Hoosier voters to cast their ballots by mail in the Nov. 3 presidential election. The federal appeals court will livestream oral arguments in the case.