Sykes becomes chief judge of 7th Circuit
Diane Sykes, who has often been mentioned as a possible nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, has become the chief judge of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, assuming the leadership position July 5.
Justices/Judges
Articles
Chief Justice Roberts recently hospitalized after fall
Chief Justice John Roberts spent a night in a hospital last month after he fell and injured his forehead, a Supreme Court spokeswoman said Tuesday night.
Supreme Court sides with Catholic schools in employment suit
The Supreme Court of the United States is siding with two Catholic schools in a ruling that underscores that certain employees of religious schools, hospitals and social service centers can’t sue for employment discrimination. The high court’s ruling on Wednesday was 7-2.
New territory: State courts prepare for return of jury trials
As Hoosier trial courts prepare for the return of in-person proceedings with COVID-19 precautions, many unanswered questions remain about the best practices for safely conducting jury trials.
Supreme Court upholds cellphone robocall ban
The Supreme Court on Monday upheld a 1991 law that bars robocalls to cellphones. Six justices agreed that by allowing debt collection calls to cellphones, Congress “impermissibly favored debt-collection speech over political and other speech, in violation of the First Amendment.”
Southern Indiana District included in request for more judges
The Judicial Conference of the United States is again pleading with Congress to add 65 new judgeships in 24 district courts across the country, including two permanent new judges in the Southern Indiana District Court.
3 women named as COA finalists
The next Indiana Court of Appeals judge will be a woman, as three women have been selected as finalists to fill an upcoming vacancy following two rounds of interviews with the Judicial Nominating Commission. Their applications will now go to the governor for final consideration.
Semifinalist interviews for Court of Appeals vacancy conclude
The Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission is one step closer to choosing three finalists for an Indiana Court of Appeals vacancy as it holds its second and final round of candidate interviews Wednesday.
Supreme Court strikes down Louisiana abortion clinic law
A divided Supreme Court on Monday struck down a Louisiana law regulating abortion clinics, reasserting a commitment to abortion rights over fierce opposition from dissenting conservative justices in the first big abortion case of the Trump era.
Police-trainee’s blood-draw suppression in 2015 crash case reversed
A former police trainee accused of causing a drunken-driving crash on Interstate 465 five summers ago will go back to court with more evidence against him. The Indiana Supreme Court on Monday ruled that results of a blood draw after he refused a breath test were wrongly suppressed in Marion Superior Court.
Justices boost Trump administration’s power in asylum cases
The Supreme Court on Thursday strengthened the Trump administration’s ability to deport people seeking asylum without allowing them to make their case to a federal judge.
Saying goodbye: Baker to retire after more than 40 years as a judge
It wasn’t quite the retirement he expected. With COVID-19 forcing most of the population to work from home, Court of Appeals Judge John Baker quietly visited the Indiana Statehouse in early June to pack up his chambers. Though he won’t officially retire until July 31, he decided to close out his Indianapolis office early, without the usual pomp and circumstance of a sendoff. “I wanted to work from home,” Baker said with a laugh, “but I didn’t mean for everyone else in the world to have to do it.”
Second round of interviews announced for coming COA vacancy
Seven semifinalists vying for the Indiana Court of Appeals judicial vacancy left by retiring Judge John Baker will be interviewed in person by the Judicial Nominating Commission on July 1. The interviews come after 13 applicants were interviewed remotely earlier this month.
Simple math suggests complex back story at Supreme Court
Supreme Court watchers were left scratching their heads when they learned Justice Neil Gorsuch was the author of Monday’s landmark LGBT rights ruling, but not because the appointee of President Donald Trump might have been expected to side with his conservative colleagues in dissent.
Lake County judges join call to reaffirm principles of justice, equality
The presiding judges of the Lake Circuit and Superior Courts have issued a statement against racism and in support of due process and equal protection.
AG’s office wins delay in suit challenging Hill’s eligibility
Lawyers for the Indiana Attorney General’s Office asked for a change of judge late Thursday on the eve of the first scheduled hearing in a lawsuit seeking to declare suspended Attorney General Curtis Hill ineligible to serve. Lawyers for the AG’s Office — who also filed on behalf of Gov. Eric Holcomb — also asked to vacate the hearing.
7 COA candidates advance to second round of interviews
The Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission has selected seven of 13 candidates to advance to the next round of interviews as the commission works to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Indiana Court of Appeals.
Former judge accused of defrauding estates resigns from bar
A one-time northern Indiana trial court judge who is accused in lawsuits of taking money from two estates in cases he represented has resigned from the Indiana bar rather than face disciplinary proceedings related to his misconduct.
Pandemic means a silent June at the Supreme Court
The coronavirus pandemic has kept justices of the United States Supreme Court from their courtroom since March and forced them to change their ways in many respects. Now, in their season of weighty decisions, instead of the drama that can accompany the announcement of a majority decision and its biting dissent, the court’s opinions are being posted online without an opportunity for the justices to be heard.
New judge for suit seeking to remove AG Hill might come from justices
The Marion County clerk — or maybe the Indiana Supreme Court — will have to appoint a new judge to hear a case challenging Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill’s eligibility to continue to serve in office as he serves his suspension from the practice of law related to accusations of groping and sexual misconduct.