Legal community helps prosecutor
Following a car accident in early June, a St. Joseph County deputy prosecutor’s life was dramatically changed.
St. Joseph County
Articles
1-year limit toll not extended by appeal
The one-year limit to file a motion for relief from judgment under Indiana Trial Rule 60(B) is not from the time an appeals
court rules on the matter, but must be made within one year after the trial court enters its order, the Indiana Court of Appeals
ruled today in an issue of first impression.
Justices rule on judicial mandate case
In its first case since the state amended its rules last year on how judicial mandates are handled, the Indiana Supreme Court
has today issued a decision about a St. Joseph Superior judge’s mandate for the county to pay for multiple items he
considered necessary for running the local juvenile justice system.
SCOTUS won’t take Indiana lab tech case
The nation’s highest court won’t take a case from the Indiana Supreme Court, which decided last year that it did
not violate a man’s Sixth Amendment rights for a lab technician who’d processed DNA evidence to not testify at
trial.
Counties must pay for juvenile facilities
Indiana counties are responsible to pay a portion of costs to operate juvenile detention facilities.
Bar associations statewide mark Law Day
In April and early May, bar associations around the state and the Indiana Supreme Court celebrated Law Day, which is officially
May 1, according to the American Bar Association.
Court pilot programs boost foreclosure conferences
Foreclosure rates have remained at record highs for Indiana the past few years, and a court program to help homeowners hasn’t
been as successful as hoped. That’s now changing.
Police deaths, injury inspire late legislation
Although the deadline has passed to introduce new legislation, St. Joseph County Prosecutor Michael Dvorak has called on legislators to find current bills that will allow amendments to statute in response to two separate car accidents involving police officers.
COA sets standard in parental rights cases
In addressing a statutory inconsistency on parental rights terminations, the Indiana Court of Appeals has held that trial judges must offer findings of fact in those types of cases just as they're required to by law for children in need of services cases and grandparent visitation matters.
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.
Suit claims courthouse violates ADA
Four defendants in cases pending before the St. Joseph Superior Court have filed a lawsuit claiming that county's courthouse is inaccessible for people with disabilities
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.
AG files suit to recover taxpayer money
The Indiana Attorney General has filed a complaint in St. Joseph Circuit Court to recover public money that the former Lakeville
clerk-treasurer allegedly spent on personal items like movie rentals and satellite television.
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.
Former justice discusses merit selection
During a visit to South Bend today, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor pushed a message that merit selection is the best way to ensure an independent judiciary, though her words come at a time when state lawmakers are close to scrapping that very system in the county she visited.
St. Joe judges election bill hearing Wednesday
The Indiana Senate Judiciary Committee will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday in Room 130 at the Statehouse to discuss several bills on first reading, including House Bill 1491, which would require nonpartisan elections of St. Joseph Superior judges.
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.
House passes St. Joseph judicial election bill
In a historically notable vote, the Indiana House of Representatives passed a bill that would elect St. Joseph Superior judges rather than stick with a merit-selection and retention system in place for 35 years.
Senate OKs COA panel, St. Joe judge elections
The full Senate voted today in support of legislation scrapping the St. Joseph Superior judge merit-selection system for judicial elections, and also creating a new panel for the Indiana Court of Appeals.
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.