Indiana Court decisions – July 15-Aug. 1, 2018
Read Indiana appellate decisions from the most recent reporting period.
IL Staff
Articles
Memorial honoring Lozano scheduled for next month
The Indiana Northern District Court will honor the late Senior Judge Rudy Lozano at a memorial service in his honor next month. The service will begin at 2 p.m. Sept. 24 in Lozano's courtroom in the Hammond Federal Courthouse, 5400 Federal Plaza.
Report: Employment rate rises with J.D. class of 2017
Overall employment for class of 2017 law school graduates only increased by 1 percentage point, even though the number of jobs found by graduates fell again by more than 1,200 compared with 2016 numbers, according to a report released Thursday.
Deputy prosecutor named new LaGrange Circuit judge
LaGrange County deputy prosecutor William R. Walz IV has been appointed to the LaGrange Circuit Court. Gov. Eric Holcomb selected Walz to succeed Judge J. Scott VanDerbeck, who retired June 1. VanDerbeck plans to serve as a senior judge and work as a mediator.
Judge pro tem appointed in Lake County; Tavitas to join COA
Senior judge Thomas W. Webber Sr., will serve as judge pro tem in Lake Superior Court, Civil Division 3, replacing Judge Elizabeth Tavitas upon her appointment to the Indiana Court of Appeals. Tavitas is scheduled to be sworn in on the appellate bench next week.
Rule change gives extra time to file transfer petitions
Attorneys will have 15 extra days to file a petition to transfer to the Indiana Supreme Court next year, thanks to an appellate rule amendment adopted Monday.
Gov. Holcomb advocates for hate crime law after synagogue vandalism
Republican Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb is calling on the General Assembly to pass a hate crimes bill after someone spray-painted anti-Semitic graffiti at a suburban Indianapolis synagogue. Holcomb said Monday he’ll meet with lawmakers, legal experts, corporate leaders and “citizens of all stripes who are seeking to find consensus on this issue so that, once and for all, we can move forward as a state."
IJA seeking nominations for ‘Excellence in Public Information and Education’ awards
The Judicial Conference Community Relations Committee is accepting nominations for the “Excellence in Public Information and Education” awards, given annually to one judge and one member of the media. On behalf of the Indiana Judges Association, the committee will select winners to be recognized for their efforts in judicial community relations.
Company to pay $10K fine in worker’s death at IU’s campus
A contractor has agreed to pay $10,000 in fines for workplace safety violations found after a worker died at an Indiana University construction site.
Marion County 2018 satellite voting sites approved
Marion County voters will be able to vote in one of six satellite voting locations in the 2018 general election, officials announced Wednesday in response to a federal court order. A consent decree entered earlier this month required the county to establish at least five early-voting locations.
Sigler appointed special prosecutor in Hill investigation
Daniel Sigler, a senior prosecuting attorney from Fort Wayne, has been appointed special prosecutor as part of the investigation into sexual misconduct allegations surrounding Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill.
Indiana Court Decisions — July 5-18, 2018
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the most recent reporting period.
AG Hill fights sexual harassment allegations, launches separate challenges
Since a memo was released detailing Curtis Hill’s alleged sexual misconduct at a party celebrating the end of the 2018 legislative session, the Indiana Attorney General has continued to fight back, even as calls for his resignation persist. This week, a nonprofit for his legal defense was announced.
Transgender student seeks injunction in bathrooms lawsuit
A federal judge is weighing whether to grant a preliminary injunction to allow an Evansville transgender student to use male bathrooms.
AG Hill, attorney Bopp start nonprofit legal defense fund
Supporters of embattled Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill have created a nonprofit to raise money for his legal defense amid allegations the Republican drunkenly groped a state lawmaker and three legislative staffers.
Lake Circuit asbestos abatement may alter proceedings
The main courtroom for Lake Circuit Court in Crown Point began a four-month asbestos abatement Monday that may change the location of some court dates, Circuit Judge Marissa McDermott announced in a letter to the bar. The courtroom — Room B-203 — will be under construction, which may affect the proceedings of the Lake Circuit and probate courts
ACLU launches LGBTQ resources project
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana announced Thursday its statewide launch of the LGBTQ Rights Project, an initiative that encompasses current and future work to defend and advance the rights of LGBTQ Hoosiers.
Slaughter replaces David as Coalition for Court Access chair
Indiana Supreme Court Justice Geoffrey Slaughter has taken over as chair of the Coalition for Court Access, while three additional members have been appointed to serve under him. He will take over for Justice Steven David, who had chaired the coalition since its 2016 inception.
ISBA opens legal ethics essay contest
Indiana law students, recent graduates and new attorneys, and paralegals are invited to further the discourse on legal ethics by participating in the Indiana State Bar Association’s legal ethics essay contest. The deadline for entry is Aug. 3.
Applications open for Allen County judicial vacancy
An Allen County superior court judge will retire at the end of this year, prompting the Allen Superior Court Judicial Nominating Commission to begin the process of selecting his replacement. The vacancy will occur in December when Judge John F. Surbeck, Jr. retires from his position in the Allen Superior Court Criminal Division.