Anti-piracy legislation tackles IP enforcement
The notion of pirates pillaging treasures and bartering it on the high seas isn’t that far fetched for Indianapolis intellectual property attorney Jonathan Polak.
Law & Politics
Articles
Lake Circuit candidate can stay on ballot for now
A Highland attorney is back on the ballot for a Lake Circuit judge opening after he received a temporary restraining order that says the Indiana Election Commission shouldn’t have removed his name as a candidate for the general election.
‘Social business’ among discussions
This year’s Program on Law and State Government at Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis Oct. 1 will
focus on three main topics for lawyers, businesses, legislators, government employees, and academics: education about entrepreneurship
at the undergrad, graduate school, and law school levels; the idea of “social businesses,” also known as L3Cs
or low profit limited liability companies; and how government entities use data to improve services to citizens.
Book recounts ’08 presidential race
An Indiana lawyer intimately involved in Barack Obama’s presidential run has written a book about the campaign and
how the consistently Republican state went Democrat for the first time since 1964.
Indy lobbyists now required to register info
Lobbyists who work in Indianapolis and Marion County will now have to register their information in a public database beginning
next year. Effective Jan. 1, 2010, a new ordinance requires all lobbyists engaging in executive or legislative branch lobbying
activity with an agency of the City of Indianapolis or Marion County to register with the Department of Code Enforcement.
Lawyer elected U.S. Libertarian Party officer
Mark Rutherford wants America’s third-largest political party to make inroads by showing competence at the grassroots level of government.
No issue with all legislative logrolling
The Indiana Supreme Court offered some clues recently about why it’s ignored repeated attempts to address the issue
of legislative logrolling, where multiple unrelated changes are stuffed into one massive bill that becomes law.
Could Indiana adopt a law like Arizona’s?
Immigration attorneys and victims advocates are reading up on the Arizona illegal immigrant law and bracing themselves for
what a similar bill in Indiana could mean for their clients.
Report: Laws alone won’t stop cell phone use while driving
A House bill looking to ban texting while driving in Indiana on its own may not be very effective in preventing drivers from
using their cell phones in the car, according to a policy brief from an Indiana University research center.
Lawyer elected vice chairman of Libertarian Party
Indianapolis attorney Mark Rutherford is the new vice chairman of the Libertarian National Committee.
House OKs child support-casino bill
Lawmakers have passed a bill that allows the Indiana Department of Child Services to more efficiently collect delinquent child
support, including a gaming intercept requiring casinos to check whether gamers are on a state delinquency list before releasing
large jackpots to them.
Juvenile justice bill passes Senate
A bill that incorporated suggestions from attendees and organizers of an Indiana State Bar Association-sponsored juvenile
justice summit last summer passed the Indiana Senate 45-3 Feb. 18.
ISBA receives award for juvenile justice summit
The Indiana State Bar Association has learned it will receive the LexisNexis 2010 Community and Educational Outreach Award
for the “Summit on Racial Disparities in the Juvenile Justice System: A Statewide Dialogue,” which took place
in August 2009.
Indiana juvenile justice bill first in nation
In what started at a summit hosted by the Indiana State Bar Association in August, House Enrolled Act 1193, which authorizes
a work study commission to consider various juvenile justice issues in Indiana, was signed by the governor March 17.
Agencies examine UPL
Long before he became Greenwood’s police chief, attorney Joe Pitcher recalls sitting as a special judge in town court and
facing an Unauthorized Practice of Law case that may be one of few like it in Indiana.
Legislature’s final days bring up merit selection, out-of-state placement issues
Hoosier lawyers and judges were kept on the edge of their seats as the Indiana General Assembly navigated its final days of
the session, reviving talk on two issues that have significant impact on the state’s judiciary and legal system.
Senate Judiciary Committee approves Johnsen
More than a year since she was first nominated to head the Office of Legal Counsel, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee March
4 approved Indiana law professor Dawn Johnsen along party lines for the second time.
Lawmakers move court-funding bills
In the last days of the legislative session, lawmakers addressed funding proposals in HB 1154 on converting Marion County commissioners into magistrates and using a $35 fee on traffic infractions to pay for this; SB 307 that would allow a $50 fee on Bartholomew County traffic infractions to pay for a new Superior Court there; and SB 399 on capping traffic violation fines statewide.
Make net metering, renewable energy an issue
Energy is one of the major issues environmentalists and lawyers who work with companies concerned about green technology are keeping an eye on during the 2010 Indiana legislative session.
Lawyers balance public role as legislators
In his 35 years as a lawyer-legislator, Sen. Richard Bray has thought about whether he should get involved in litigation because
of his role as an elected state official. While he doesn't recall this ever affecting his involvement on a case or legislation
before him, the veteran attorney from Martinsville, who practices with his son at The Bray Law Office, sees how it could present
problems.