Pilot commercial courts to become permanent
Indiana’s pilot commercial courts will become a permanent part of the Hoosier judiciary next month. The six specialized dockets around the state will remain where they are, with some rule amendments.
Vanderburgh County
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Jurors deadlock on life sentence for 2 slayings in Indiana
Jurors have deadlocked on whether to recommend a sentence of life in prison for a 24-year-old Evansville man convicted of murder and robbery in the 2017 slayings of two people in southwest Indiana. Jurors were dismissed Thursday after deadlocking on the question. They convicted Deshay Hackner on Wednesday in the deaths of 29-year-old Dewone Broomfield and his girlfriend, 28-year-old Mary Woodruff.
Evansville boy, 16, sentenced to 62 years in man’s slaying
A 16-year-old Evansville boy has been sentenced to 62 years in prison in the death of a man fatally shot outside a convenience store.
Howard County magistrate, other judicial aid bills advance
A bill requesting an additional magistrate judge to handle an increasing number of cases filed in Howard County was approved by the full Senate on Monday. That bill now joins several other counties’ similar requests for judicial help making their way to the governor’s desk.
Lawmakers pass bills adding new courts, judicial officers
Several bills seeking extra judicial assistance for Indiana counties struggling under overburdened caseloads have successfully made their cases to both legislative chambers. With that approval secured, the next stop is the governor’s desk.
COA splits on definition of ‘squeezed’ in burglary case
A man’s assertion that he “squeezed through” an open door without the homeowner’s permission has left an appellate panel divided over whether the man properly pleaded guilty to burglary, resulting in a split conclusion that he still used unauthorized force to gain entry.
Clark, Marion, Vanderburgh judicial officer bills advance
Bills requesting additional judicial help for three more Indiana counties are moving swiftly through the Indiana General Assembly now that a committee has unanimously approved their advancement.
Bills for new Howard, Tippecanoe judicial officers advance
Two of four House measures in the Senate that would bring judicial relief to some Indiana counties were given the go-ahead to proceed Wednesday, but two other bills have yet to move forward.
Vanderburgh County man gets 150 years for killing wife, shooting daughters
A southwestern Indiana man convicted of killing his wife and shooting his adult twin daughters has been sentenced to 150 years in prison. Clinton Loehrlein learned his sentence Monday after a Vanderburgh County jury last year found the Darmstadt man guilty of murder in the January 2017 slaying of 52-year-old Sherry Loehrlein, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated battery and misdemeanor resisting law enforcement.
Snapchat video of man with gun admissible, COA rules
A popular social media app contributed to a man’s conviction, which he argued portrayed him in the wrong light under Evidence Rule 404(b). However, the Indiana Court of Appeals rejected his argument when it found the video was not meant to target his character, but rather the evidence of his crime.
Bills for additional magistrates, judges move forward
Several counties looking for additional judicial help may get what they are hoping for, now that measures authorizing the positions are moving toward passage in the Indiana legislature.
COA rejects developer’s private pond argument
An Evansville developer’s argument that the Indiana Department of Environmental Management does not have jurisdiction over private ponds did not hold water with the Indiana Court of Appeals.
Supreme Court deciding commercial courts’ fate
After a nearly 3-year pilot project, the specialized dockets in six Indiana counties are getting positive feedback from litigants in business disputes.
Bond set for man charged with shooting 5 outside bar
A judge has set bond at $500,000 for a 32-year-old man charged with shooting five people outside an Evansville bar.
COA rejects hearsay exception argument, upholds murder conviction
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed a man’s murder conviction and 65-year sentence after finding the defendant failed to show how out-of-court statements allegedly made by several individuals qualified as an exception to the hearsay rule.
Abuse of corpse conviction affirmed in woman’s death
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed a man’s abuse of a corpse conviction, finding his confession was admissible without independent evidence because there was independent evidence to support his other confession in the same case.
House panel OKs new Howard, Vanderburgh magistrate judges
Two counties seeking funding for additional magistrate judges from the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee got their wish Wednesday when the panel advanced the legislation to the House floor.
No malicious intent found in prosecution of debt suit
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment for a heavy equipment company when it found there was no malicious prosecution of an Indiana quarry and its owner over a debt.
Man pleads guilty in death of woman shot through wall
An Evansville man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for the death of a neighbor who was killed when a bullet traveled through an apartment wall.
Brown County attorney resigns over disciplinary action
The Indiana Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a public reprimand of an Evansville attorney and accepted the resignation of a Brown County attorney who was facing multiple professional misconduct and trust account violations.