IL Staff - The Indiana Lawyer

Lake County Bar: Judicial-selection bill an ‘abomination,’ ‘political power play’

February 18, 2021 | IL Staff

The Lake County Bar Association on Thursday issued the most damning rebuke to date of a bill in the Indiana General Assembly that would alter how judges in that county and St. Joseph County are selected. The northwest Indiana county’s bar called the bill “an abomination” and “a political power play by parties not even within Lake County to take even more power away from the people of Lake County in selecting their judges.”

Justices take up disputes over teachers contracts, online user data

February 18, 2021 | IL Staff

Members of the state’s highest court last week turned away nine cases on petition for transfer but agreed to hear arguments in three cases, including disputes over the legality of teacher contracts and two media companies’ litigation over the use of consumer data.

Snow closes courthouses in Indianapolis, Southern Indiana District

February 16, 2021 | IL Staff

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is closing all federal courthouses Feb. 16 because of the winter storm dumping heavy snow throughout much of Indiana. Likewise, many state courts also closed, including Marion Superior and Circuit Courts.

LSC seeking $350 million to $500 million in additional funding

February 15, 2021 | IL Staff

The Legal Services Corporation, which supports legal aid agencies across the country including Indiana Legal Services, is asking the federal government for hundreds of millions in supplemental funding, saying low-income Americans are being hit especially hard by the economic devastation from the pandemic.

Deputy prosecutor to succeed Borges on Marion Superior bench

February 15, 2021 | IL Staff

A Marion County deputy prosecutor has been named the newest member of the Marion Superior Court bench.

Indiana Secretary of State Lawson announces resignation

February 15, 2021 | Indianapolis Business Journal Staff and IL Staff

Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson on Monday announced plans to resign from office after Gov. Eric Holcomb “selects a successor and the successor is ready to serve.” Lawson, 71, is the longest-serving secretary of state in Indiana history. She was appointed to the office by then-Gov. Mitch Daniels in March 2012 and was elected in 2014 and 2018.

Trump acquitted, denounced in historic impeachment trial

February 15, 2021 | Associated Press and IL Staff

Donald Trump was acquitted Saturday of inciting the horrific attack on the U.S. Capitol, concluding a historic impeachment trial that spared him the first-ever conviction of a current or former U.S. president but exposed the fragility of America’s democratic traditions and left a divided nation to come to terms with the violence sparked by his defeated presidency.

Valparaiso looking for new team name after dropping Crusaders

February 12, 2021 | Associated Press and IL Staff

Valparaiso University announced Thursday that is dropping the team name Crusaders, the school mascot and all logos associated with the term that it says has been embraced by hate groups.

Allen County judge applications open as Pratt retires

February 12, 2021 | IL Staff

The pending retirement of Allen Superior Judge Charles F. Pratt from the court’s Family Relations Division will create a judicial vacancy, and qualified candidates have until 1 p.m. March 10 to apply, the Indiana Supreme Court announced Friday.

Indiana Southern District to resume in-person jury trials in April

February 12, 2021 | IL Staff

The Southern Indiana District Court has announced plans to resume in-person jury trials in April following a months-long hiatus due to the pandemic. Jury trials in Southern District courts are expected to resume April 5, and clerk offices in all divisions will reopen to the public next week.

Indiana to soon expand COVID-19 vaccines to those 60 and up

February 11, 2021 | Associated Press and IL Staff

Indiana health officials will soon expand coronavirus vaccines to Hoosiers ages 60 to 65 as they continue to sidestep federal recommendations for vaccine rollout and delay the timeline for teachers and other essential workers to become eligible for COVID-19 shots.

Ending Indiana gun carry permits could cost police $3.5 million

February 11, 2021 | Associated Press and IL Staff

Indiana legislators would face coming up with $3.5 million a year for local police agencies if they repeal the state law requiring a permit to carry a handgun in public.

Indiana Senate passes bill to require FAFSA submission

February 10, 2021 | Associated Press and IL Staff

A bill that would require students at public schools to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid advanced to the Indiana House after lawmakers approved the measure in a Senate vote Tuesday.

Justices to hear case ordering confidential informant to sit for defense interview

February 9, 2021 | IL Staff

An order requiring a confidential informant to sit down for a face-to-face interview with defense counsel will be reviewed by Indiana’s highest court after justices granted transfer to the Marion County case.

Justice Department seeks resignations of Trump-era U.S. attorneys

February 9, 2021 | Associated Press and IL Staff

The Justice Department will ask U.S. attorneys who were appointed by former President Donald Trump to resign from their posts, as the Biden administration moves to transition to its own nominees, a senior Justice Department official said Monday.

Holcomb promotes Allen to chairwoman of Alcohol and Tobacco Commission

February 8, 2021 | IL Staff

The attorney who serves as executive secretary of the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission has been promoted to chairwoman of the commission, Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Friday.

Indiana Supreme Court opens ICLEO applications

February 8, 2021 | IL Staff

The Indiana Supreme Court has opened applications for the 2021 Indiana Conference for Legal Education Opportunity program serving student groups that are traditionally underrepresented in law school.

Analysis: Federal executions likely a COVID superspreader

February 8, 2021 | Associated Press and IL Staff

As the Trump administration was nearing the end of an unprecedented string of executions in Terre Haute, 70% of death row inmates were sick with COVID-19. Guards were ill. Traveling prison staff on the execution team had the virus. So did media witnesses, who may have unknowingly infected others when they returned home because they were never told about the spreading cases.

Two lawyers suspended for non-cooperation with discipline investigations

February 5, 2021 | IL Staff

Two Hoosier lawyers have been indefinitely suspended from the practice of law for failure to cooperate with investigations of ethics grievances against them.

Justices accepting disciplinary commission applications as Witte gets senior judge status

February 4, 2021 | IL Staff

The Indiana Supreme Court is now accepting applications for a new disciplinary commission executive director as the current director prepares to retire and take senior judge status.

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