Justices uphold Baer’s death penalty
The Indiana Supreme Court has unanimously affirmed the denial of a murderer’s petition for post-conviction relief, leaving his death sentence in place.
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SCOTUS declines to consider Indiana case
The nation’s highest court has refused to consider an Indiana case involving whether a defendant’s no contest plea to an out-of-state murder can be used to qualify him as a serious violent felon on a conviction here.
Man accused of planning to blow up courthouse sentenced
The Pike County man who was arrested by police after they discovered his plan to blow up that county’s courthouse was sentenced today after pleading guilty to a charge stemming from the incident.
High court takes 3 cases
The Indiana Supreme Court will hear a case in which a dissenting Court of Appeals judge worried that the majority’s finding would head toward a bright-line rule regarding the officer safety exception to the warrant requirement in the context of a car on the side of the road.
Judges’ right to bear arms (sometimes)
The Commission on Courts didn’t recommend any state statute changes that would have allowed judges authority to carry weapons in places county ordinances or laws currently prevent.
7th Circuit expands inquiry to implicit motion for new attorney
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals expanded caselaw today when ruling on a defendant’s request for new counsel.
7th Circuit upholds gun ban for domestic violence offender
A Wisconsin man who pled guilty to possessing firearms after he was convicted of a domestic battery misdemeanor
is not allowed
to have those firearms, even though he argued they were used for hunting.
COA upholds stop of teen with gun
The Indiana Court of Appeals found the stop by police of a teen at a summer expo in Indianapolis who had a loaded gun in his
waistband didn’t violate the teen’s state or federal constitutional rights. The appellate court also concluded
the juvenile court’s comments to the teen’s father don’t require a remand.
Officer’s questions went beyond seat belt act
The inquiry by a police officer to a driver stopped for a seat belt violation about the "large, unusual bulge"
in his pants went beyond the state's Seatbelt Enforcement Act, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled Thursday.
COA: no error in admitting no contest plea
A plea of no contest can be admitted under Indiana Evidence Rule 803(8) as a public record proving the fact of a conviction, the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed today. The appellate court found no error in admitting a defendant's nolo contendere plea to a Florida murder as proof he was convicted of an offense qualifying him as a serious violent felon.
Court reverses handgun conviction
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed today a defendant's conviction of carrying a handgun without a license because
the circumstantial evidence doesn't support that the man had the requisite intent to constructively possess the gun.
Judges find search of car for gun not justified
A panel of Indiana Court of Appeals judges reversed the denial of a defendant's motion to suppress evidence of drugs found in his car during a search, but one judge believed the man's cooperation and respect toward the police officer shouldn't factor into their decision making.
Court affirms delay in jury trial for congestion
The Indiana Court of Appeals rejected a defendant's arguments that because his request for a speedy trial was in writing, his trial should take priority over another man's trial scheduled for the same day.
Trial court didn’t err in denying mistrial
A trial court didn't abuse its discretion in denying a mistrial after learning a juror asked the state's firearms expert a question outside the courtroom during a recess in the trial, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled.
COA: Police didn’t need to search car after stop
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a man's unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon conviction, ruling the warrantless search of the car the man was driving violated his federal and state constitutional rights.
Justices split in traffic-stop decision
The Indiana Supreme Court justices were split in their decision issued Dec. 31 on whether a defendant's state and federal constitutional rights were violated when police questioned him about weapons and drugs after he was pulled over for a traffic violation.
Trial judge’s comments spur COA reversal
Because of a trial judge's statements following the conviction of a man for having a gun in a controlled area of an airport, the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed the conviction for insufficient evidence.
Order restricts guns, alcohol in judge’s home
Special Judge Walter Chapala issued an order this week requiring all firearms be removed from the home of a LaPorte Superior judge who was shot last month in her home.
Judges: Vehicle stop by cops reasonable
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a man's illegal gun possession conviction, ruling the South Bend Police officer who made the traffic stop had reasonable suspicion the car may be linked to a shooting in an apartment complex.
Court denies transfer to gun suit
The Indiana Supreme Court denied transfer Monday to a gun suit out of Gary which has been ongoing since 1999.