Welcome to First Impressions, a place for sharing your thought about legal news and issues in Indiana and beyond. I'm your host, Jennifer Nelson, Web editor for Indiana Lawyer. Just like in the courtroom, we encourage everyone to interact with civility.
Recent Blog Posts
SCOTUS hears testimonial case
November 10, 2008
Comments(0)The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments today involving an issue that is currently before our state’s high court: whether lab
reports are considered testimonial evidence. SCOTUS heard arguments in Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts , about whether a state
forensic analyst’s laboratory’s report...
MoreShould judge be removed?
November 7, 2008
Comment(1)The masters presiding over the case of Marion Superior Judge Grant Hawkins released their report today recommending to the
Indiana Supreme Court that he be removed from the bench. Hawkins was charged by the Indiana Judicial Qualifications Commission
with 11 counts...
MoreTalk of reform and recusal
November 5, 2008
Comments(0)From IL reporter Michael Hoskins: Indiana Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard took some time Wednesday following Election Day
to talk with about 60 people about local government reform. He spoke at the North United Methodist Church in Indianapolis
about his work...
MoreNo alcohol until 6 p.m.
November 4, 2008
Comment(1)I expected a long wait to vote at my precinct today. I brought my iPod, wore comfortable shoes, and prepared to wait in line
for an hour or more. When at 7 a.m. I pulled up to the church where I...
MorePre-election appeals
November 3, 2008
Comments(0)From IL reporter Michael Hoskins: Election Day is less than 24 hours away, but that isn’t stopping the litigation and court
filings. An emergency appeal is happening with the Indianapolis ruling that came from Marion Circuit Judge Ted Sosin late
Friday,...
MoreMisconduct complaint on AG ad
October 31, 2008
Comments(0)With all the political ads showing on TV right now, it’s easy for us to tune them out. But one recent ad from the camp of
Republican candidate for Attorney General Greg Zoeller has upset one Indianapolis criminal defense attorney so...
MoreWhat about the votes?
October 30, 2008
Comments(0)The Indiana Court of Appeals is hearing arguments today in the Lake County early-voting satellite locations case, and as of
this blog posting, hasn’t ruled on the issue. It’s up in the air right now how the court may rule, but...
MoreWhere else is the fraud?
October 28, 2008
Comments(0)Why does it always have to be Lake County? It’s election time, so once again, there are allegations flying that shenanigans
are going on in Northern Indiana. Voter fraud is a big deal. If it isn’t caught, it can damage and...
MoreShould all judges be lawyers?
October 27, 2008
Comments(0)From IL reporter Michael Hoskins: If you’re responsible for applying the law, no matter if the case is a traffic infraction
or a civil or criminal proceeding, is a law license required? The answer is no, but it’s a topic being...
MoreJudge attacks pro bono work
October 23, 2008
Comments(0)Update: The Wall Street Journal Law Blog has an entry today with excerpts of the 2nd Circuit Chief Judge Dennis Jacobs' speech
regarding pro bono work. The chief judge defends his speech, saying the National Law Journal article "grossly misstates" what
the judge...
MoreLaw school for free
October 22, 2008
Comments(0)Want to go to law school for free? That’s the pitch one new California law school is using to attract students from competing
schools. The University of California Irvine School of Law is planning to offer the students who enroll in...
MoreBe our friend!
October 20, 2008
Comments(0)Indiana Lawyer has jumped into the online social-networking world and joined Facebook, and we are looking to make friends.
Do you want to be our friend? We started IL ’s Facebook page as a place for attorneys and law students...
MoreFraud claims don’t hold up
October 16, 2008
Comments(0)There’s a fight going on in Indiana against early-voting sites, but the punches are being thrown at the wrong opponent. A
few Republicans in the typically Democratic-leaning Lake County have challenged the use of satellite voting sites because
they feared it...
MoreCould you pass the test?
October 14, 2008
Comments(0)What does the U.S. Constitution do? Why do some states have more representatives than others? Under the U.S. Constitution,
what is one power of the federal government? As a lawyer, you should be able to answer these questions pretty easily. But...
MoreTV, child care, and jurors
October 10, 2008
Comments(0)Free child care. Free movies and wireless Internet. Time to shop during the day. These aren’t amenities law firms are giving
employees to attract lawyers but are actually what some counties in the U.S. are doing to attract jurors. No one...
MoreSlow economy, fewer mergers
October 8, 2008
Comments(0)Here’s more proof that law firms are struggling in this economy: opportunities for mergers are lessening. When I think of
the economy worsening, I think law firms that are teetering on the brink of going under would try to find another...
MoreJudicial candidates, Facebook
October 6, 2008
Comments(2)Some local candidates for judge in Indiana are turning to the Internet to spread the word about their campaigns – but they
aren’t just creating election Web sites. Some have taken the leap into the social media world and created Facebook...
MoreMore ISBA tidbits
October 3, 2008
Comments(0)From IL reporter Michael Hoskins: Five newer faces on the federal bench (or at least, ones in relatively new roles) came together
Thursday afternoon at the ISBA annual meeting. They were Magistrate Jane Magnus-Stinson, selected about two years ago to replace...
MoreTidbits on the ISBA
October 2, 2008
Comments(0)During a conversation today with Indiana Lawyer reporter Rebecca Berfanger, the incoming Indiana State Bar Association president
mentioned something that caught our attention: Not only does he have a Facebook page, but the ISBA has a Facebook group page.
Bill Jonas...
MoreCourt oversight neglected
September 30, 2008
Comments(0)Hey, there. I’ve found myself in a bit of a pickle financially and need around $700 billion. Can you lend it to me without
me telling you what I need it for? Thanks. But by the way, if I don’t repay...
MorePay disparity in legal jobs
September 29, 2008
Comments(0)Women attorneys continue to make less than men. It doesn’t shock or even surprise me. There’s no disputing that on average,
women in all types of professions make less than men, often for doing the same job. It’s been that...
MoreYes, felons can vote here
September 25, 2008
Comments(0)Indiana may have made national headlines for its strict voter ID laws this year, but when it comes to felons being able to
vote, Indiana is one of the better states in the country. In Indiana, imprisoned felons can’t vote, but...
MoreMeditations for attorneys
September 23, 2008
Comments(0)Lawyers are an analytical bunch, but are they also reflective and meditative? The American Bar Association has just released
a new book, “The Reflective Counselor: Daily Meditations for Lawyers,” in hopes of helping attorneys find balance in their
lives. The More
Look it up, lawmakers
September 22, 2008
Comments(0)From Indiana Lawyer reporter Michael Hoskins: We look at Indiana’s appellate decisions every day. Frequently, a legal issue
is raised about an ambiguous federal or state statute where words aren’t defined and the courts must address what the legislative
intent could...
MoreWhat happened to civility?
September 18, 2008
Comments(0)We’ve got another sitting judge in trouble for his actions. Howard Superior Judge Stephen Jessup received a public admonition
after storming over to the prosecuting attorney’s office trying to find out where the deputy prosecutor was who was supposed
to be...
More
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Court Calendar
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May 22, 2013 Floyd Weddle v. State of Indiana - 5/22/13
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May 24, 2013 Indiana Patient's Compensation Fund v. Judy Holcomb, Personal Representative of the Estate of Mable Louise Cochran, deceased - 5/24/13
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May 28, 2013 The Estate of Richard A. Mayer and Spangler, Jennings & Dougherty, P.C., v. Lax, Inc., and David Lasco - 5/28/13
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June 12, 2013 Northern Assurance Company of America v. Thomson, Inc., et al. - 6/12/13
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With all due respect, Rick, I think you probably would be making a mistake by going to law school. The job market for attorneys is so saturated, you may well find yourself unemployed and with a lot of debt. You mention law would be a good supplement to your skills. True. But employers unfortunately don't value that. You will find that a law degree may well pigeonhole you into an attorney slot and limit career options. If you have a good job now I would hold onto that. As an attorney, you may well end up making less with the aforementioned debt.
Jack, I was only responding to bill's comment of tying everybody in government together. I agree with you though, it takes one bad apple to ruin the bunch.. As in any profession. What's truly unfair is when somebody violates someone's trust and takes complete advantage of someone
John’s comment is unfair. The majority of attorneys can be trusted. Unfortunately, all it takes is one greedy, unscrupulous, immoral attorney to jade the public.
In regards to bill's comment about trusting the cover meant. We can trust them about as much as we can trust attorneys'.
This is disturbing to learn...