Zionsville mayor files suit, seeks to clear up her power to demote department heads
Zionsville Mayor Emily Styron filed a lawsuit Tuesday that should determine whether the town’s council can keep her from demoting the fire department’s chief.
Law & Politics
Articles
Rokita’s AG office defends governor’s mask order power in restaurant suit
Indiana’s attorney general’s office vigorously defended Gov. Eric Holcomb’s emergency powers in response to a restaurant’s lawsuit challenging his order that masks must be worn inside restaurants to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
Breyer mum as some liberals urge him to quit Supreme Court
With spring comes the start of the period in which many justices have announced their retirement from the United States Supreme Court. Some progressives say it is time for Justice Stephen Breyer to go, without delay. Other liberal voices have said Breyer, the oldest justice, should retire when the court finishes its work for the term, usually by early summer.
Southern Indiana District Court on list for more judges
The Judicial Conference of the United States is asking Congress to create 79 new judgeships in federal courts across the country, including adding two new permanent judges in the Southern Indiana District Court.
Biden backs changes to filibuster; GOP vows ‘scorched earth’
President Joe Biden is calling for changes to the filibuster to require lawmakers to speak on the floor of the Senate to hold up a bill, while the chamber’s Republican leader warns of “scorched-earth” tactics if Democrats use their new majority to bring an end to the legislative roadblock entirely.
Police reform bill heads to governor’s desk after 49-0 Senate vote
A significant law enforcement reform bill is headed to Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb for his signature. The bill largely bans chokeholds and adds several measures addressing police accountability.
Letter to the editor: Proposed changes to merit selection may prove judicious
Your publication recently printed an article discussing the Indiana State Bar Association’s objections to Indiana Senate Joint Resolution 16. The bar association’s complaint about SJR 16, and the slant of the article, is that the resolution proposes to “strip” Hoosier voters of the power to retain Indiana appellate court judges and Supreme Court justices. I do not believe that complaint is well-founded.
Scrounging for change: DOL pauses proposed tip-pooling, tip credit rules changes
Proposed changes to the country’s tipped employee regulations have caused a stir among some states and worker advocates, prompting a temporary halt of further movement from the U.S. Department of Labor.
DOC secrets remain after justices rule for disclosure
Despite a ruling in her favor from the Indiana Supreme Court capping her years-long quest to find out how the state of Indiana might carry out an execution, Washington, D.C., attorney Katherine Toomey was still waiting for answers two weeks later.
Election bills tweaking Indiana voting laws
Compared to the battles surrounding voting bills in states such as Iowa and Georgia, the six bills that are moving through the Indiana General Assembly appear to be making rather mild tweaks to Hoosier election laws rather than attempting a controversial overhaul.
Holcomb names Indiana Rep. Holli Sullivan as secretary of state
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has named state Rep. Holli Sullivan as the next secretary of state. Sullivan, who represents a district in southwestern Indiana and is currently vice chair of the state Republican Party, will replace Connie Lawson, who is resigning as Indiana’s longest-serving secretary of state.
Leading Senate Democrat says outlook bleak on immigration bills
A leader of Senate Democrats’ drive to help millions of immigrants become citizens cast severe doubt on its prospects Monday, as one of President Joe Biden’s early priorities seemed in danger of running aground in a Congress his own party controls.
Pro bono filing fee bill needs buzzer-beating play to pass Legislature
Although the Indiana General Assembly has unanimously supported a $1 pro bono surcharge tacked onto the state’s filing fee for civil cases since 2012, a bill that would have increased the amount to $3 did not get a committee hearing this session, raising alarm that the key funding stream for legal aid could run dry just as the need is growing.
AG Garland vows return to ‘normal’ Justice Dept. on first day
Taking the reins at the Justice Department, Attorney General Merrick Garland sought Thursday to assure career staffers that he would prioritize restoring the department’s reputation for political independence and ensuring equal justice after a tumultuous four years under former President Donald Trump.
AG Rokita continuing business advisory roles
Indiana’s new attorney general is being paid by private businesses for consulting work, including $25,000 a year for advising a Connecticut-based pharmaceutical company, according to a newspaper report.
Restaurants are big beneficiaries of COVID-19 relief bill
Restaurants devastated by the coronavirus outbreak are getting a lifeline from the pandemic relief package that’s awaiting President Joe Biden’s signature.
Senate confirms Merrick Garland to be U.S. attorney general
The Senate confirmed Merrick Garland on Wednesday to be the next U.S. attorney general with a strong bipartisan vote, placing the widely respected, veteran judge in the post as President Joe Biden has vowed to restore the Justice Department’s reputation for independence.
Indiana police reform bill sails through Senate committee
A bipartisan bill aimed at increasing police accountability and enacting criminal justice reform advanced with unanimous support from a key Indiana Senate committee Tuesday.
Biden administration won’t defend Trump immigration rule
A Trump-era immigration rule denying green cards to immigrants who use public benefits such as food stamps was dealt likely fatal blows Tuesday after the Biden administration dropped legal challenges, including before the Supreme Court.
House set to vote on virus relief, Biden on cusp of triumph
Congress is poised to approve a landmark $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, placing President Joe Biden on the cusp of an early triumph that advances Democratic priorities and showcases the unity his party will need to forge future victories.