Committee action deadline nearing
The Indiana General Assembly's influential judiciary committees have a packed week ahead where both representatives and senators will review a mass of legislation as deadline approaches.
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Out-of-state placement bill goes to House
A legislative committee has given its OK to a bill that would repeal a last-minute 2009 special session provision, which gave the Indiana Department of Child Services key control in deciding whether juveniles can be placed outside the state.
Lawmakers mull veto override on merit selection
Vetoed legislation that would scrap St. Joseph County's merit selection for judicial elections and also add a new three-judge panel to the Indiana Court of Appeals is back in play.
What the ACLU of Indiana is tracking
he ACLU of Indiana is keeping an eye on bills that have been introduced this session and is anticipating others that could be introduced, including those that will affect due process, First Amendment rights, reproductive rights, voting rights, Second Amendment rights, and rights based on gender identity and sexual orientation, among other issues covered by the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Legislature’s end suspenseful for legal community
As the Indiana General Assembly got down to its final hours in a short-session, significant changes for the Hoosier legal community were on the table to possibly increase the number of appellate judges, change how one county chooses its trial judges, and impact how juveniles can be placed outside the state.
What the ISBA is watching this session
The Indiana State Bar Association is watching several bills introduced in this 2010 session, including probate and family law matters.
Legislators revisit vetoed merit-selection measure
In the final days of the Indiana General Assembly session, as lawmakers pushed to finish and put final touches on the end-of-term business, a 2009 measure that divided the Hoosier legal community came back into play.
Police animal amendment moves to full House
The proposed amendment making it a Class D felony for someone who kills a police animal while driving drunk has found a home in legislation.
Lake County fee bill moves forward
The House Judiciary Committee met this morning to consider five bills that included assessing a $10 fee for Lake County court filings, which would be used to fund a consolidated judicial center.
UPDATE: Committee tweaking St. Joe judges bill
A legislative conference committee is debating what changes might be possible for a bill aimed at scrapping merit selection for St. Joseph Superior judges.
Shutdown wouldn’t cripple legal system
As the clock ticked closer to a partial shutdown of state government, the Hoosier legal community received word this afternoon from the Indiana Supreme Court that trial courts should conduct business as usual and that the state's legal system would continue as much as possible if lawmakers fail to pass a budget by deadline.
No vote yet on St. Joe judges bill
An Indiana Senate committee debated this morning a bill that would make it so St. Joseph Superior judges are elected rather than chosen by merit selection and later retained by voters.
‘Rocket docket’ now set for juvenile appeals
New rules from the Indiana Supreme Court this week officially create an expedited "rocket docket" for certain juvenile cases going through the appellate system.
Appeals court expansion bill stays alive
Legislation that would create a new sixth panel for the Indiana Court of Appeals is moving through the legislative committee cycle, even though lawmakers doubt it will pass this session. The Senate Judiciary Committee met this morning and discussed Senate Bill 35, which proposes an additional appellate judge panel for the first time since 1991. […]
Legislator wants elected high court jurists
One Indiana legislator wants to make changes to the state's highest court, including how the jurists are seated.
Governor likely to soon get St. Joe judges bill
Gov. Mitch Daniels will likely receive legislation today aimed primarily at scrapping judicial merit selection in St. Joseph County and creating a new Indiana Court of Appeals panel starting 2011.
Paternity, election bills go to governor
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels received 34 enrolled bills Tuesday awaiting his signature to make them law.
New legislation streaming in
An Indiana Court of Appeals expansion, executing the mentally ill, and how judges find representation in mandate litigation are just a few proposals already on tap for the General Assembly to consider this session.
Judicial merit-selection override a possibility
The state's top executive has rejected the idea of scrapping merit selection in St. Joseph County, but it remains unclear whether lawmakers will attempt to override that veto during a special session.
2010 Organization Day for lawmakers today
Lawmakers returned to the Indiana Statehouse today for Organization Day, a traditionally ceremonial time spent electing leaders and organizing priorities for its second regular session – the short session – that starts in January. More coverage will be in the Nov. 25 issue of Indiana Lawyer.