Legal hurdles loom for U.S. Senate hopeful John Rust
John Rust, a wealthy egg farmer from Seymour, is plowing ahead with his U.S. Senate bid even as Indiana statute would appear to prevent him from getting on the Republican primary ballot.
Law & Politics
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Lawyers indicted with Trump say they were doing their jobs. But that may be a tough argument to make
The 18 defendants charged alongside Trump in Fulton County include more than a half-dozen lawyers, and their statements provide early foreshadowing of at least one of the defenses they seem poised to raise: that they were merely doing their jobs as attorneys.
‘The battle isn’t over’: Near-total abortion ban in effect, but litigation continues
It’s been a year of legal battles for both sides of the abortion issue in Indiana, with a struggle in the courts still playing out as the state’s near-total ban takes effect for the second time.
Books, pronouns and trans athletes: What contentious education policy is coming next?
If the last few legislative sessions are any indication of what could be on the horizon for the Indiana General Assembly in 2024, one seemingly safe bet is that the state’s lawmakers will again take up controversial education policy.
Librarians concerned new law could have ‘chilling effect’: HEA 1447 creates process for book challenges, prohibits ‘obscene’ materials
A new Indiana law set to take effect in 2024 has some public school librarians feeling uneasy, as the state has put in place procedures for challenging books and will require school libraries to prepare a publicly available catalog of materials.
Judge declines to clarify who’s covered under RFRA-based injunction of state’s near-total abortion ban
The Marion Superior Court has declined to provide clarity on who is covered under a temporary injunction entered against the state’s near-total abortion ban on religious freedom grounds.
Trump says he will surrender Thursday on Georgia charges tied to efforts to overturn 2020 election
Former President Donald Trump says he will surrender to authorities in Georgia on Thursday to face charges in the case accusing him of illegally scheming to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state.
5th Circuit backs some abortion drug limits, pending Supreme Court approval
Mail-order access to a drug used in the most common form of abortion in the U.S. would end under a federal appeals court ruling issued Wednesday that cannot take effect until the Supreme Court weighs in.
Court watchdog files complaint against judge who ordered ‘religious-liberty training’ for lawyers
A court watchdog has filed a complaint against the federal judge who ordered “religious-liberty training” for a trio of Southwest Airlines lawyers as part of their punishment for not fully following his orders in a case involving speech about abortion.
Judge upholds petition requirement for independent, minor-party ballot access in Indiana
Indiana’s requirement for political independents and minor-party candidates to obtain ballot access via petition — a process estimated to cost roughly $500,000 — is not unconstitutional, a federal judge has ruled.
Attorney General Merrick Garland appoints special counsel in Hunter Biden probe
Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Friday he has appointed a special counsel in the Hunter Biden probe, deepening the investigation of the president’s son ahead of the 2024 election.
Prosecutors seek Jan. 2 trial date for Trump in 2020 election conspiracy case
Prosecutors with special counsel Jack Smith’s team asked a judge on Thursday to set a Jan. 2 trial date for former President Donald Trump in the case charging him with plotting to overturn his 2020 election loss.
Special counsel got search warrant for Twitter to turn over info on Trump’s account, documents say
Special counsel Jack Smith’s team obtained a search warrant in January for records related to former President Donald Trump’s Twitter account, and a judge levied a $350,000 fine on the company for missing the deadline to comply, according to court documents.
Florida Gov. DeSantis suspends another Democratic prosecutor as he seeks GOP presidential nomination
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday suspended the top prosecutor in Orlando, again wielding his executive power over local government in taking on a contentious issue in the 2024 presidential race.
From prayer to books, Rokita updates ‘Parents’ Bill of Rights’
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita released a fourth edition of his “Parents’ Bill of Rights” document Tuesday, outlining what Hoosier parents can do to “oversee and participate in the part of our children’s education that occurs outside of the home.”
Conservative groups sue to block Biden plan canceling $39 billion in student loans
Two conservative groups are asking a federal court to block the Biden administration’s plan to cancel $39 billion in student loans for more than 800,000 borrowers.
Justice Department faces biggest test in history with election conspiracy case against Trump
When the Justice Department was announcing the highest-profile prosecution in its history in Washington, Attorney General Merrick Garland was 100 miles away, meeting with local police in Philadelphia.
Trump pleads not guilty to federal charges that he tried to overturn 2020 election
Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Thursday to trying to overturn the results of his 2020 election loss, answering for the first time to federal charges that accuse him of orchestrating an attempt to block the peaceful transfer of presidential power.
Appeals court allows Biden asylum restrictions to temporarily stay in place as case plays out
An appeals court Thursday allowed a rule restricting asylum at the southern border to temporarily stay in place.
Justice Kagan supports ethics code but says Supreme Court divided on how to proceed
Justice Elena Kagan publicly declared her support for an ethics code for the U.S. Supreme Court but said there was no consensus among the justices on how to proceed, suggesting the high court is grappling with public concerns over its ethics practices.