Indiana General Assembly - The Indiana Lawyer

General Assembly: Indiana isn’t ‘employer’ in groping suit against Hill

September 3, 2019 | Olivia Covington

The Indiana House and Senate are doubling down on their argument that Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill cannot adequately represent their interests against discrimination and retaliation allegations brought by three legislative staffers against Hill and the state. In new court filings, the two legislative bodies say they are the entities that are legally considered the women’s employers, so they alone have the right to defend their sexual harassment prevention and response policies against the harassment allegations.

Study committee begins summer review of criminal justice reform initiatives

August 29, 2019 | Olivia Covington

As criminal justice reform efforts continue across the state, members of the Indiana General Assembly are meeting this summer to discuss issues related to pre-trial release, indigency and sentencing, among others.

7th Circuit: Indiana voter purge provision violates federal law

August 28, 2019 | Marilyn Odendahl

In a ruling that reminded Indiana of the need to protect the integrity of the voting process, the 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the state from kicking individuals off the voter rolls based solely on a match in the Crosscheck database.

Ban on Indiana abortion parental notification law upheld

August 28, 2019 | Dave Stafford

A federal appeals court has upheld an injunction blocking a 2017 Indiana law that would have required parental notification for mature minors seeking an abortion. One member of the three-judge panel dissented, however, and would have allowed the law to take effect.

7th Circuit blocks Indiana voter purge law

August 27, 2019 | Marilyn Odendahl

A federal appeals court has confirmed that Indiana’s attempt to cleanse its voter rolls by using the controversial Crosscheck database violates the National Voter Registration Act. The ruling upholds a lower court ruling in a suit brought by a national public-interest group.

Filing: Statehouse lawyers, officials tried to question Hill accusers

August 23, 2019 | Olivia Covington

Details continue to emerge in the sexual misconduct lawsuit against Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill and the state of Indiana. New allegations contained in an amended complaint shed additional light on the responses of Statehouse officials to groping and harassment allegations made by four women.

Key motivator for Democrat Tallian’s AG bid: ‘Curtis Hill has to go’

August 21, 2019 | Dave Stafford

Vowing an aggressive campaign in a race that in the past has often been overshadowed by upticket contests, Democratic Indiana Sen. Karen Tallian explained what motivated her to announce her candidacy for attorney general. “My answer is Curtis Hill has to go, and somebody needs to do it, and it needs to be attorneys.”

Indiana legislator jailed on drunken driving, other charges

August 14, 2019 | Associated Press

A state legislator from Indianapolis was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of drunken driving and impersonating a police officer.

Holcomb cleared of ethics violations by inspector general’s office

August 8, 2019 | Lindsey Erdody and Indianapolis Business Journal Staff

Gov. Eric Holcomb has been cleared by the Indiana Inspector General’s office of any potential ethics violations related to the private flights a casino magnate treated him to last year.

Justices: Decades-old rule in fixed plea modifications still stands

August 7, 2019 | Olivia Covington

In upholding a decades-old rule recently codified through a legislative amendment, the Indiana Supreme Court has ruled in companion cases that trial courts can only modify a sentence entered as part of a fixed-plea agreement if the modified sentence would not have violated the plea agreement at the time the sentence was originally imposed.

Funds for sex assault victims lag frequently

August 7, 2019 | Marilyn Odendahl

Indiana law requires the state to cover the costs of performing forensic medical exams on victims of sexual assault, but a recent transfer of nearly $1.5 million has officials conceding the program is underfunded.

New law lets some defendants’ community service offset court costs

August 7, 2019 | Olivia Covington

Legislation that took effect last month is providing offenders a new option to offset their court fees. Rather than incarceration, the new law would let people struggling to pay their court costs work off their debt through community service or volunteering.

Inspector general fights AG Hill’s subpoena in discipline case

August 7, 2019 | IL Staff

As the disciplinary action against Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill proceeds, a key player in the investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against Hill is claiming her records from the investigation are privileged.

Indiana casinos looking for jump on Midwest sports betting

August 5, 2019 | Associated Press

Indiana casinos are racing ahead with preparations to launch legalized sports betting in early September, looking to seize an advantage over competitors in Chicago and other nearby large markets where such wagers aren’t yet allowed. A new state law approved this spring allows betting to start Sept. 1 on dozens of professional, collegiate and international sporting events.

Head leaving Indiana Senate, becoming deputy prosecutor

July 29, 2019 | IL Staff

State Sen. Randy Head is stepping down from his elected position to become a northern Indiana prosecutor, the Logansport Republican announced Monday.

Police: Indiana marijuana surge coming from other states

July 29, 2019 | Associated Press

Some Indiana police officers are reporting that they’re seeing an increase in marijuana products, including pot-laced edibles and vaping devices, coming from states where marijuana has been legalized to one degree or another. State Police Sgt. Carey Huls said authorities are observing an increase of specialty marijuana products coming from states such as California or Colorado with established laws permitting their use

Inspector general fights AG Hill’s subpoena in discipline case

July 26, 2019 | IL Staff

As the disciplinary action against Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill proceeds, a key player in the investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against Hill is claiming her records from the investigation are privileged.

Step-by-step: 3 counties get extra judicial resources this year from General Assembly

July 24, 2019 | Olivia Covington

Every fall, judicial representatives from several Indiana counties travel to the Statehouse to make the same plea: Our caseloads are growing and our litigants are waiting, the judges tell lawmakers. We need more help, and we need your permission to get it.

Conflicting opinions: Amid call to abolish city, town courts, proponents say venues have value

July 24, 2019

If you’ve ever been cited for violating a local ordinance, odds are you’ve ended up in a city or town court. While there have been calls to abolish them, the small-matter venues also have their defenders.

Indiana Legislature seeks to separate from AG in sexual harassment lawsuit

July 23, 2019 | Marilyn Odendahl

The Indiana House of Representatives and the Indiana Senate have filed separate motions in federal court to represent themselves in the sexual harassment lawsuit against Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill Jr., claiming the state’s top lawyer cannot adequately defend their interests. Majority leaders of both the House and Senate announced late Monday afternoon they had hired outside counsel and are trying to intervene in the litigation brought by four women against Hill and the state of Indiana.

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