Articles

Allen Superior Court seeks magistrate judge to succeed Zent

The Allen Superior Court Criminal Division is accepting applications for a magistrate judge position that will open when Senior Magistrate David M. Zent becomes an Allen Superior Judge. Applications will be accepted to fill Zent’s seat in the Allen Superior Court Misdemeanor and Traffic Division through Nov. 30, with the position expected to be filled in December.

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19 to be interviewed for Lake Superior judgeship

The Lake County Judicial Nominating Commission will begin conducting interviews to fill an upcoming vacancy in the Lake Superior Court left by Judge Jesse M. Villalpando, following his decision to not seek retention earlier this year.

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New judges named in Allen, Monroe counties

An Allen County magistrate judge has been selected to fill one of two upcoming vacancies in the Allen County courts, and the successor has been chosen for a longtime jurist in Monroe County.

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Sweeney to take ceremonial oath as judge next month

The Indiana Southern District Court’s newest member, Judge James R. Sweeney, will be ceremonially sworn into office next month.  Sweeney’s investiture ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 16, at the Birch Bayh Federal Building and United States Courthouse in downtown Indianapolis.

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Hanlon confirmed to Southern Indiana District Court

James Patrick “J.P.” Hanlon was confirmed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana by the U.S. Senate Thursday evening in a voice vote. The partner at Faegre Baker Daniels was nominated by President Donald Trump and will fill the vacancy created when Judge William Lawrence took senior status in July.

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Bitter fight over Kavanaugh shadows a conservative court

The moment conservatives have dreamed about for decades has arrived with Brett Kavanaugh joining the Supreme Court. But with it comes the shadow of a bitter confirmation fight that is likely to hang over the court as it takes on divisive issues, especially those dealing with politics and women’s rights.

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Supreme Court nominee Kavanaugh clears crucial Senate hurdle

A deeply divided Senate pushed Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination past a key procedural hurdle Friday, setting up a likely final showdown this weekend in a battle that’s seen claims of long-ago sexual assault by the nominee threaten President Donald Trump’s effort to tip the court rightward for decades. The Senate voted 51-49 to limit debate, effectively defeating Democratic efforts to scuttle the nomination with endless delays.

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Kavanaugh says he ‘might have been too emotional’ at hearing

Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh acknowledged Thursday he “might have been too emotional” when testifying about sexual misconduct allegations as he made a final bid to win over wavering GOP senators on the eve of a crucial vote to advance his confirmation. Three GOP senators and one Democrat remain undecided about elevating Kavanaugh to the high court.

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GOP, Dems battle over secret FBI report on Kavanaugh

A high-stakes partisan row quickly broke out Thursday over a confidential FBI report about allegations that Brett Kavanaugh sexually abused women three decades ago, with Republicans claiming investigators found “no hint of misconduct” and Democrats accusing the White House of slapping crippling constraints on the probe.

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Indiana law professors sign letters opposing Kavanaugh confirmation

Law professors from all four of Indiana’s law schools have signed letters asking the United States Senate to oppose the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. One letter argues Kavanaugh lacks the temperament to be seated on the nation’s highest court, while the other asserts he was not fully vetted and that his judgments would erode civil and individual rights.

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Key GOP senators hit Trump for mocking Kavanaugh accuser

Two wavering Republican senators lambasted President Donald Trump on Wednesday for mocking a woman who has claimed Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in the 1980s, underscoring the risks of assailing Kavanaugh’s three accusers as Senate support teeters for the Supreme Court nominee.

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New COA judge Tavitas honored as ‘true public servant’ at robing ceremony

There are many adjectives friends and colleagues used to describe Elizabeth Tavitas, the newest Indiana Court of Appeals judge, when they gathered to celebrate her ceremonial robing on Monday. But as each speaker described their unique experiences with Tavitas, there was a common theme running through each set of remarks: service.

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White House gives FBI freer rein in Kavanaugh investigation

The White House has given the FBI clearance to interview anyone it wants to by Friday in its investigation of sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The new guidance was issued to the FBI over the weekend in response to Democratic and news media pushback that the scope of the probe was too narrow.

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Judge pro tem appointed to replace Lake Superior Judge Villalpando

A judge pro tempore has been appointed to perform the duties of Lake Superior Court judge Jesse M. Villalpando, whose name was recently removed from the Nov. 6 general election ballot. A Friday order announced the Lake Superior Court judge will take leave from the bench beginning today and will remain on leave for the duration of his elected term, while attorney Stephen A. Tyler will serve in his place as judge pro tem. 

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Supreme Court term starts in shadow of Kavanaugh

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court will begin its new term with the crack of the marshal’s gavel and not a camera in sight. The term’s start has been completely overshadowed by the tumult over Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the high court.

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