Articles

IU McKinney announces rural justice judicial clerkships

A second Indiana law school has partnered with the Indiana Supreme Court to expose more students to the practice of law in less urban communities through a rural judicial clerkship program. Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law announced its collaboration with the state’s highest court, introducing five students who will take part in the “Supporting Rural Justice Initiative.”

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Dismissal of lawyer’s defamation suit against magistrate affirmed

A Lafayette attorney alleging a Tippecanoe County magistrate defamed him by reporting he was carrying a firearm in court in violation of state law lost his appeal of the dismissal of his defamation case when the Indiana Court of Appeals concluded the magistrate was acting within her judicial capacity.

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COA tosses convictions on new charges introduced at trial

A split Indiana Court of Appeals reversed four counts of a woman’s conviction, finding the trial court abused its discretion in allowing the state to amend the charging information without giving the defendant a “reasonable opportunity” to prepare and defend against the new counts.

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Divided COA upholds weapons conviction after traffic stop

A man convicted on a weapons-related charge failed to convince the Indiana Court of Appeals to overturn his conviction, arguing unsuccessfully that officers unconstitutionally stopped him and searched his vehicle. A dissenting judge, however, believes officers lacked reasonable suspicion to stop the man.

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Web exclusive: Maurer 1L judicial clerkships offer legal aid to rural judges

Five first-year law students from Indiana University Maurer School of Law who are interested in careers in public service have been selected and paired with Indiana trial court judges who preside in smaller communities — specifically, Orange, Putnam, Vigo, Washington and White counties. The pilot’s ultimate goal: offering law students an opportunity to experience real-life practice in smaller communities while assisting Hoosier judges who might be overlooked by students who want to clerk in larger urban areas.

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David, Rush publish dissent as high court lets stand sentencing via video

Indiana’s chief justice and the most senior jurist on the Indiana Supreme Court published a sharp dissent Tuesday from a 3-2 ruling that could pave the way for defendants to be sentenced via video. Chief Justice Loretta Rush and Justice Steven David argued in the minority that defendants have a constitutional right to be physically present when a judge imposes a sentence for a crime.

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