Robing ceremony set for Lake Superior Judge Bokota
The Lake County Bar Association will hold an in-person robing ceremony in honor of the newest judge of the Lake Superior Court later this month.
Lake County
Articles
Lake Co. father of drowned brothers receives 16-year prison sentence
A 16-year prison sentence was handed Wednesday to a northwest Indiana man who pleaded guilty to two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury in the drownings of his two sons.
Finding error, COA reverses denial of tax sale
The deceased owner’s brother has lost possession of a 10-foot-wide vacant lot after the Indiana Court of Appeals found the trial court was “clearly erroneous” in finding the purchaser did not give proper notice.
NW Indiana man gets 5-year sentence for boy’s fatal shooting
A northwest Indiana man has been sentenced to two years in prison for the death of a 4-year-old boy he was babysitting who accidentally shot himself with an unsecured handgun.
Juvenile’s petition over extended house arrest without hearing splits Supreme Court
Indiana Supreme Court justices split 3-2 in declining to hear further argument from a Lake County juvenile whose house arrest was extended without a hearing being held on the matter.
Judges appointed to St. Joseph Superior, Terre Haute City Court benches
A St. Joseph County magistrate has been appointed to the St. Joseph Superior Court bench, the governor’s office announced this month. A judge has also been appointed to the Terre Haute City Court.
Suit seeks direct election of Lake County judges, says merit selection discriminatory
A federal lawsuit filed by the Democratic mayor of Hammond and a Lake County attorney argues that Indiana’s judicial nominating system that appoints judges in the state’s four most diverse counties is racially discriminatory. Judges in Lake County should be directly elected or judges statewide should be appointed through merit selection, the suit says.
Lake Co. father of drowned brothers pleads guilty to neglect charges
An Indiana man pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury in the drownings of his two sons.
Hamilton County to get new court, 4 counties to get new magistrates
Five Indiana counties will get additional judicial resources after Gov. Eric Holcomb signed legislation allowing for additional magistrates and courts. One county, however, will lose a court that had previously been approved.
ATF to help Gary authorities investigate suspicious fires
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will help the Gary police and fire departments investigate a series of recent suspicious fires, authorities said.
Father of drowned brothers pleads guilty to neglect charges
An Indiana man pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury in the drownings of his two sons.
Justices reject appeal to make public Indianapolis’ Amazon HQ2 offer
The Indiana Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from a tax trade publication that sought disclosure of tax dollars and incentives Indianapolis and the state offered Amazon in the city’s failed attempt to lure the online retail giant’s coveted second headquarters project known as HQ2.
Reversal erases partial judgment for U.S. Steel in mechanic’s lien dispute
A trial court erred in partially ruling for U.S. Steel in a dispute among material suppliers and contractors who built a now-defunct Gary industrial facility, the Indiana Court of Appeals held Monday.
Lake Co. must pay probation officers’ legal expenses, COA rules
Lake County must foot the bill for legal expenses incurred by two probation officers in a federal lawsuit brought by a probationer, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled.
Holcomb signs bill changing Lake, St. Joe JNCs
The structure of judicial selection in Lake and St. Joseph counties will soon change now that Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has signed controversial legislation changing the composition of the judicial selection panels in the northern Indiana counties.
Judge: BP’s Whiting refinery violated soot emission limits
A BP refinery in northwestern Indiana repeatedly violated air pollution standards for soot emissions between 2015 and 2018, a federal judge ruled in a lawsuit brought by environmental advocates.
COA reverses reopening of dismissed eminent domain action
Homeowners challenging a Lake County public construction project must challenge the project’s impact on their property through a new inverse condemnation action, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled, reversing a ruling allowing the homeowners to reopen a previously dismissed lawsuit.
Indiana House sends Lake, St. Joe judicial selection bill to Holcomb
Despite final pleas from Lake County Democratic lawmakers to kill a controversial judicial selection bill that one said treats their county and St. Joseph County “as stepchildren,” the Indiana House voted Wednesday to agree to Senate amendments, sending House Bill 1453 to Gov. Eric Holcomb.
Stafford: Crooked Lake, St. Joe judicial bill merits a veto
A parade of attorneys from Lake and St. Joe counties testified against House Bill 1453. Most spoke in disbelief that this was happening without any prior consideration. They explained why they had taken their time and traveled all the way down to Indianapolis, some twice, to tell lawmakers why this is a bad idea and why the current judicial nominating system works. It was enough to give any reasonable person pause. But this is the Indiana Legislature we’re talking about.
Steele appointed to St. Joe bench after lawsuit delayed selection process
The South Bend city attorney has been selected to fill a vacancy on the St. Joseph Superior Court. Stephanie Steele will fill the seat vacated by now-Senior Judge Jane Woodward Miller, Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Wednesday.