Opinions December 12, 2025

The following opinion was posted after The Indiana Lawyer’s deadline Thursday:
Indiana Supreme Court
In the Matter of Edgardo Javier Martinez Suarez
25S-DI-26
Attorney discipline. Per curiam opinion. Suspends Edgardo Javier Martinez Suarez for 30 days with automatic reinstatement after he engaged in attorney misconduct by neglecting a client’s immigration matter. Finds that Suarez violated Indiana Professional Conduct Rules 1.1, 1.4(a)(2), 1.4(a)(3), 1.4(a)(4), 1.4(b), and 1.16(d). Also finds the parties’ proposed 30-day suspension is consistent with discipline imposed in similar cases and there is no indication that the respondent’s mishandling of his client’s case is part of a broader pattern of neglect. Respondent pro se: Edgardo Javier Martinez Suarez. Attorneys for Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission: Adrienne Meiring, Julie Bennett.

Friday opinions
Indiana Court of Appeals
In the Matter of the Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of A.L., Mother, J.T., Father, and B.T., Child, A.L. and J.T. v. Indiana Department of Child Services
25A-JT-663
Juvenile termination of parental rights. Affirms the Jay Circuit Court’s termination of father J.T.’s parental rights. Finds the trial court’s conclusion that termination of father’s parental rights was in the child’s best interest was supported by clear and convincing evidence. Reverses the trial court’s termination of mother A.L.’s parental rights. Finds that while it is factually correct that the mother had not engaged in services from Department of Child Services, the trial court’s conclusions that the mother had not engaged in services, benefited from services, and had not improved her ability to parent the child are not supported by the evidence. Finally, finds that, by failing to present the statutory notice issue to the trial court, the father waived his argument regarding a lack of statutory notice. Remands for further proceedings. Attorneys for appellant: Joshua Brown, Ana Quirk. Attorneys for appellee: Todd Rokita, Monika Talbot.

Malcony Rodriguez-Arias v. State of Indiana
25A-CR-948
Criminal. Reverses Malcony Rodriguez-Arias’ conviction in Noble Superior Court of Class C misdemeanor driving without ever receiving a valid driver’s license.  Finds because Rodriguez-Arias was a nonresident of Indiana and possessed a valid driver’s license from the Dominican Republic, he qualified for an exemption to Indiana Code section 9-24-18-1(a). Attorney for appellant: Victoria Casanova. Attorneys for appellee: Todd Rokita, Michelle Kazmierczak