Articles

Appeals court: Federal judge should decide on state law claims

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has sent a case back to an Indianapolis judge, saying she didn’t properly weigh whether the case should be prolonged on remand to Hamilton Superior Court instead of her deciding on the issues that have already been fleshed out in federal court during the past year and a half.

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Judges halt enforcement of challenged laws

Two federal judges issued preliminary injunctions June 24 preventing parts of two new controversial laws regarding immigration and funding of Planned Parenthood of Indiana from being enforced.

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7th Circuit dismisses law suit over bar exam

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has dismissed an Indiana man’s suit in which he claims he should be able to sit for the bar exam even if he didn’t go to law school. The federal appellate court dismissed it for failure to timely pay the required docketing fee.

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State trooper sues after incident with city officer

The Indiana State Police detective involved in a physical confrontation with an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police deputy chief in August 2010 in the deputy chief’s office has filed a lawsuit claiming false arrest and assault and battery.

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Man still fighting dismissal of bar exam suit

The man who sued the Indiana Supreme Court and state Board of Law Examiners because he wants to take the bar exam without going to law school wants a federal judge to reopen his case, arguing that he has no other legal recourse available and the court’s refusal to allow relief is contrary to established precedent.

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SCOTUS denies one Indiana case, sidesteps others for now

The Supreme Court of the United States denied one prisoner lawsuit from Indiana today, while not saying whether it will address another case from this state on judicial speech. No decision was made on a third Hoosier case it heard arguments on more than a month ago addressing vehicular flight.

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Federal judge rules against state on immigrant paternity case

Sitting at the crossroads between immigration law, paternity establishment, and the controversy on how the United States handles illegal immigrants, a federal judge in Indianapolis has ordered state health officials to stop denying unmarried immigrant parents without a Social Security number the ability to file an affidavit establishing paternity.

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BLE suit moves forward

Even as the Indiana Board of Law Examiners searches for a new leader, a federal lawsuit remains pending against the state agency’s questions to prospective lawyers about their mental and emotional health.

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Governor names new Marion Superior judge

The governor has appointed Barbara L. Cook Crawford as the newest Marion Superior judge. She will replace former Marion Superior
Judge Tanya Walton Pratt, who was appointed to the U.S. District Court’s Southern District of Indiana in June.

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Senate confirms Judge Tanya Walton Pratt

Marion Superior Judge Tanya Walton Pratt has just received confirmation from the U.S. Senate, meaning she'll become state's
first African-American federal judge and one of four female jurists on Indiana's federal bench.

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Senate to vote on Judge Pratt Tuesday

The U.S. Senate plans to vote on a Marion Superior judge’s nomination for the federal bench on Tuesday, according to
a spokesman in Sen. Evan’s Bayh’s office. Senators agreed Thursday to consider the nomination of Marion Superior
Judge Tanya Walton Pratt, whom the president chose in January for the Southern District of Indiana to succeed Judge David
F. Hamilton. Judge Hamilton was elevated to the federal appeals bench late last year.

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Banking attorney confirmed as federal judge

The Hoosier legal community has its newest federal judge in the Northern District of Indiana, and now two others up for judgeships
in the state’s Southern District await their votes before the full U.S. Senate

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Judicial appointments a hot topic at 7th Circuit conference

This year’s 7th Circuit Bar Association and Judicial Conference for the 7th Circuit featured a more historic tone because
of the high-profile roster of legal community leaders who attended, as well as offering tidbits about how the Indianapolis
federal courthouse will soon be going green, how the state’s Southern District is hoping for a new full-time magistrate,
and a call to action for Hoosier judges and attorneys to get more involved in a new e-discovery program under way.

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