‘Kid from a cornfield’: Goff brings community mentality to Supreme Court bench
He describes himself as “a kid from a cornfield.” And for Justice Christopher Goff, ties to his cornfield community run deep.
Justices/Judges
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Chief deputy prosecutor to fill coming Hancock Superior vacancy
A chief deputy prosecutor will become a Hancock County Superior Court judge, Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Friday. Marie D. Castetter will succeed Hancock Superior Court 1 Judge Terry Snow, who will retire Dec. 31.
Holcomb names Cass County prosecutor Swaim as new judge
Cass County Prosecutor Lisa L. Swaim has been appointed to the Indiana trial court bench, Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Wednesday, naming her to succeed the late Cass Superior Judge Richard A. Maughmer.
Love of litigation: Slaughter recalls how writing led him to the bench
Justice Geoffrey Slaughter thought he’d be a transactional lawyer. But then he discovered litigation. The justice recently sat down with Indiana Lawyer to discuss his time on the bench, the latest installment in IL’s Meet the Justices series.
Kavanaugh avoids controversy in first major appearance
Justice Brett Kavanaugh called himself grateful and optimistic Thursday, avoiding controversy in his first major public appearance since his stormy Supreme Court confirmation a year ago.
Holcomb appoints DeBoer to fill coming Porter Circuit vacancy
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb appointed a magistrate judge and former deputy prosecutor to a judicial vacancy in the Porter Circuit Court, his office announced Wednesday.
Honoring the honorable: Marshall added, Dred Scott author removed from Southern District mural
Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, arguably best known for authoring the notorious 1857 majority opinion in Dred Scott v. Sanford, used to be featured in an Indiana Southern District Court mural. But his name was recently replaced with “Marshall,” representing longest-serving Chief Justice John Marshall and Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall, the court’s first African-American justice.
Parrish: Students find clerkships in smaller counties rewarding
This summer’s Rural Justice Initiativesought to expose students who are committed to public service to different facets of rural and smaller-city practice while helping trial court judges with their heavy workloads in counties where that help is needed most. The goal was to underscore to students the benefits of clerking after graduation, to help improve access to courts and expand legal services, and to inspire some students to consider pursuing careers in rural Indiana.
Judges involved in Indianapolis shooting suspended without pay
The three judges involved in a night of drinking that ended in gunfire in downtown Indianapolis have each been suspended without pay from their southern Indiana benches. The Indiana Supreme Court order issued Tuesday marks the conclusion of the judicial discipline cases against the judges.
Senators seeking applications after Springmann announces senior status
Indiana’s senators are taking applications for an upcoming judicial vacancy after Northern District Court Chief Judge Theresa Lazar Springmann announced she will soon take senior status.
‘Irritated’ judge again ordered to make immigration findings for teen girl
The Indiana Court of Appeals has ordered a southern Indiana judge for the second time to make required findings regarding the immigration status of a teen girl originally from Guatemala, this time spelling out those findings for the jurist who refused to do so.
Suspect in judges’ shooting pleads guilty to battery
One of the two men charged in a violent altercation with two southern Indiana judges has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery. The nephew of the alleged gunman in the May 1 shooting was sentenced to six months of community corrections followed by a year of probation.
Study panel urges new courts, magistrate judges in 6 counties
A legislative study committee has given a favorable recommendation to the Indiana General Assembly to add new judicial resources in six counties.
Three judges involved in Indianapolis shooting now face discipline
Three judges involved in a May shooting in downtown Indianapolis are all now facing judicial discipline charges. Clark Circuit Judges Andrew Adams and Bradley Jacobs and Crawford Circuit Magistrate Judge Sabrina Bell each were charged Friday by the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications in relation to the May 1 shooting at a downtown Indianapolis White Castle, and the events leading up to the shooting.
Retired Marion Superior Judge Thomas Carroll dies
Former Marion Superior Court judge Thomas “Tom” Carroll died Saturday after serving as a judge for nearly 31 years, according to the Indianapolis Bar Association.
Supreme Court begins election year term full of big cases
The justices are returning to the Supreme Court bench for the start of an election year term that includes high-profile cases about abortions, protections for young immigrants and LGBT rights.
Stakeholders praise pretrial reforms at statewide summit
Across Indiana, 44 local jails are currently at capacity. But if half of all pretrial detainees were released, that number would fall to 11. A key lawmaker used that statistic Friday to demonstrate the possible benefits in Indiana’s efforts to release low-level, low-risk offenders as an alternative to cash bail.
Widower of lawmaker gets 55 years for killing attorney
The husband of a late Indiana legislator has been sentenced to 55 years in prison for the 2018 shooting death of a northwestern Indiana attorney.
Counties prepare for pretrial release reform
As 2019 draws to a close, judicial officials across Indiana are preparing for a change coming Jan. 1. On that day, Criminal Rule 26, which dictates new pretrial release protocols, will be effective statewide.
Summit to address pretrial release practices as bail reform looms
Representatives from all 92 Indiana counties will gather in Indianapolis next week for a team-based training event on pretrial release practices in criminal cases.