2012 was another busy year for the legal community. We welcomed new justices and a new chief justice, witnessed the beginnings of the state’s fifth law school, and saw local stories garner national and international attention. Here’s a look back at the top news stories from last year.
Tammy R. Davis, the Democratic challenger to incumbent Republican Judge Steven J. Cox of Franklin Circuit Court, appears to have lost her bid to take over Cox’s spot on the bench. According to unofficial numbers from the Indiana Secretary of State’s office Wednesday morning, Davis received around 4,500 votes; Cox received nearly 6,000 votes.
The way Marion Superior judges are elected is unconstitutional, a suit filed Thursday by Common Cause and the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana alleges.
The woman challenging Franklin Circuit Judge Steven Cox for his job faces seven disciplinary charges over statements attributed to her about the judge’s release of a prisoner who a year later killed five people, according to a statement Friday from the Indiana Judicial Qualifications Commission. The commission has asked for a public hearing on the charges.
The Indiana State Bar Association has released results of its 2012 Judicial Retention Poll. None of the six appellate judges up for retention in the Indiana Supreme Court or Court of Appeals received less than 81 percent of “yes” votes.
Evansville Bar Association members have overwhelmingly recommended five of the seven candidates running for Vanderburgh Superior Court, based on results from a recent survey.
The Evansville Bar Association is hosting a judicial debate for the Vanderburgh Superior judicial candidates in contested races on Wednesday.
Indiana Supreme Court Justice Steven David has been appointed to chair the Allen Superior Court Judicial Nominating Commission.
The Indianapolis Bar Association takes aim at the Marion Superior judicial selection process.
Some people just do not like judges. But according to Indiana University Maurer School of Law professor Charles Geyh, most people do – at least up to a point.
An Indianapolis attorney and an Indianapolis Bar Association political action committee want the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications to look into how Marion County judicial candidates contribute to political parties as part of the process in running to be a judge.
Eighteen Marion County judges will be on the ballot in the May 2012 primary. The Indianapolis Bar Association is asking attorneys to voice their opinions about those jurists.
The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies, Indianapolis Lawyers Division Chapter, will host a talk on judicial selection Tuesday.
The St. Joseph County Bar Association has released the findings of its annual survey of Superior judges. The bar association conducts the survey each year even if no judges are up for retention, which is the case for 2011.
The American Bar Association urges states to adopt recusal rules because of judicial fundraising concerns.
Indiana may soon see its next battle over how the state’s top judges are selected.
Gov. Mitch Daniels has signed into law changes to various courts around the state, as well as the legislation that removes age restrictions of certain judges who run for office.
Several Indiana counties will have their Circuit and Superior courts unified and certain judges will no longer have to be less than 70 years old when they take office, thanks to legislation passed during the 2011 session of the General Assembly.
The 2011 session of the Indiana General Assembly ended on schedule despite the weeks-long walkout by House Democrats. Now, bills impacting Indiana’s courts and legal community make their way to the governor’s desk.
Lawmakers consider election vs. selection of Superior county judges in Lake County.