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Senate confirms Von Bokkelen for U.S. District judgeship

A federal prosecutor in northern Indiana will be the newest member of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District in Hammond.The full U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed U.S. Attorney Joseph Van Bokkelen’s appointment Thursday, meaning he will succeed retiring Judge Rudy Lozano who is taking senior status.President George W. Bush, who nominated the veteran trial lawyer, still needs to sign Van Bokkelen’s appointment, which he could do after Judge Lozano steps down after July 10. Van Bokkelen would be sworn in…

COA affirms Vectren, Citizens lack of standing

The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of a breach-of-contract complaint filed by Vectren Energy and Citizens By-products Coal Co. against Executive Risk Specialty Insurance, finding the two companies never had standing to file the complaint because they are trying to fix alleged wrongdoings done to another company, rather than themselves.In Vectren Energy Marketing & Service, Inc., et al. v. Executive Risk Specialty Insurance Co., ProLiance Energy, LLC, et al., 82A05-0702-CV-115, Vectren and Citizens appealed the trial court’s order granting Executive…

High court revises burglary sentence

The Indiana Supreme Court reduced a burglar’s sentence, finding his crime didn’t justify the 40-year sentence imposed by the trial court. At issue in Steven Hollin v. State of Indiana, No. 69S01-0705-CR-188, is whether the trial court properly sentenced Hollin for his conviction of conspiracy to commit burglary and being a habitual offender.Hollin and a friend knocked on doors in Ripley County to determine if residents were home. If the home appeared empty, they planned to rob the house. Hollin and…

IJA elects new president

Allen Circuit Court Judge Thomas J. Felts was elected president of the Indiana Judges Association earlier this month. Judge Felts, along with Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard, will serve as spokespersons for Indiana’s judges. Judge Felts’ goals for his term include continuing the association’s efforts to modify and upgrade the judicial pension and benefits by aligning the 1977 and 1985 judicial pension plans and including magistrates under the plan. Currently, magistrates receive benefits separately through the Public Employees Retirement Fund. Legislative…

Court rules nurse pay plan proper

The Court of Appeals ruled today Indiana’s restructured pay plan for nurses was rational and proper, reversing the judgment of the trial court. In Madison State Hospital, Indiana Family & Social Services Administration, and State Personnel Department V. Karen L. Ferguson, 09A04-0703-CV-259, the Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s award of relief to Karen Ferguson. Ferguson, a Nurse Supervisor 5 at Madison State Hospital, and six other nurse supervisors, filed separate complaints with the State Employee Appeals Commission, arguing the 2000…

Judge: arresting authority gone without oath

The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office and Indiana Attorney General’s Office plan to appeal a judge’s ruling Tuesday that held Indianapolis officers don’t have arresting authority because they didn’t retain their sworn status following a police merger at the start of the year.Marion Superior Judge Rueben Hill decided that the January drunk driving arrest of Cheryl Oddi-Smith was illegal because the arresting officer was not sworn in after the Jan. 1 merger between the Marion County Sheriff’s Department and the Indianapolis Police…

COA reverses predator’s lifetime registration

The Court of Appeals upheld a defendant’s convictions and sentence for multiple sexual offenses but reversed the trial court’s determination he is a sexually violent predator requiring lifetime registration, citing the statute that was in place during the time the crime happened should dictate the defendant’s predator status. In Anthony Thompson v. State of Indiana, 03A01-0610-CR-430, Thompson appealed his convictions and sentence of 63 years for sexual offenses against the victim, as well as his status as a lifetime sexually violent predator….

High court rules on client-attorney relationship

The Indiana Supreme Court today ruled on a case involving an attorney-client relationship, overturning the trial court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of the attorney. In Ronald D. Liggett, d/b/a Liggett Construction Company v. Dean A. and Elisabeth Young, No. 38S0-0703-CV-80, Liggett appealed the trial court ruling in a contract dispute with the Youngs. At the time the Youngs hired Liggett to build their home, Dean Young worked as attorney for Liggett on an unrelated matter. Liggett initiated a third-party complaint…

COA affirms warrantless entry

The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed a trial court decision to deny a defendant’s motion to suppress his arrest and charges, ruling the defendant’s behavior justified the police officers to enter his home without a warrant. In William McDermott v. State of Indiana, No. 49A02-0609-CR-755, McDermott brought an interlocutory appeal of the trial court order denying his motion to suppress his arrest and charges stemming from that. McDermott argued the police officers who entered his home were not justified and did so without…

Indiana Jury Verdict Reporter summary being questioned

A case summary printed in The Indiana Jury Verdict Reporter earlier this year is at issue in a Lake County courtroom, where a judge is considering whether the publisher should be held in contempt for writing about a school negligence case three months after the verdict.The April edition of the monthly publication – published in Indiana since February 2000 – included an outline of a case involving the family of Neal Boyd IV, who had sued Gary Community Schools for not protecting…

COA named as defendant in federal lawsuit

The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed a conviction for Class C felony nonsupport of a dependant, despite the court being named as a defendant in a federal suit filed by the disgruntled appellant-defendant.In Christopher J. Stephens v. State of Indiana, 20A05-0702-CR-95, Stephens appealed his felony conviction of nonsupport of his child, as well as issues that should have been challenged during his child support proceedings or trial on the matter. Unhappy with the results of his child support order and conviction,…

Potential COA judges: Apply now

Applications are now being accepted for the second opening on the Indiana Court of Appeals in less than a year.Judge John T. Sharpnack is stepping down May 3, 2008, because of mandatory retirement, and his successor has until 4:30 p.m. Nov. 1 to apply for the upcoming vacancy.The seven-member Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission, chaired by Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard, will conduct first public interviews with applicants Nov. 12 and 13 in Indianapolis, followed by second interviews Dec. 12. The commission…

High court affirms trial court in murder case

A life-without-parole sentence is appropriate for the Elkhart County teen who pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder his girlfriend’s mom, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled today.The unanimous decision in Spenser A. Krempetz v. State of Indiana, No. 20S00-0607-CR-270, came down today and affirmed the ruling by Elkhart Circuit Judge Terry Shewmaker.In August 2005, 18-year old Krempetz conspired with his 17-year-old girlfriend Hannah Stone and a mutual friend to “get rid of” Stone’s mom because Stone was annoyed that her mother, Barbara Jo…

First interviews done for COA opening

They came to the capitol building in Indianapolis from across the state, facing a barrage of questions about why they want to be an appellate court judge.Seven will return for a second round next month.The Judicial Nominating Commission conducted its first round of interviews Tuesday for a seat on the state’s second highest appeals court, an opening that will be created by Judge John T. Sharpnack’s retirement in May 2008. The seven semi-finalists, selected after the daylong session of interviews and…

Court orders lawyer to prove suit not frivolous

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals today affirmed the orders of the District Court to grant summary judgment to defendants and also ordered the plaintiff’s attorney to show cause why he shouldn’t be sanctioned for filing a “frivolous” appeal.

COA semifinalists interview Wednesday

Seven semifinalists go before the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission Wednesday in their quest for a seat on the state’s second highest appellate court.Facing second interviews, those judges and attorneys will focus their thoughts on what they consider their two finest career accomplishments and what two items need most improving at the Indiana Court of Appeals.The interviews – which are open to the public – will be in the Statehouse, Room 319, which is near the Indiana Supreme Court’s courtroom on the…

Dog attack justifies battery charge

Commanding an animal to attack a person can justify an aggravated battery charge under Indiana statute, ruled the Court of Appeals today. In Shaquita Gilbert v. State of Indiana, 49A02-0606-CR-448, the Court of Appeals affirmed Gilbert’s conviction for aggravated battery, a Class B felony under Indiana Code 35-42-2-1.5. Gilbert appealed, saying there is insufficient evidence showing she caused the injuries that brought on the aggravated battery conviction. Gilbert commanded a pit bull in the home where she lived to attack Veronica McAtee….

Court reverses auto theft conviction

The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a conviction of auto theft and remanded the case to the trial court, citing insufficient evidence to prove the defendant had exclusive possession of the vehicle from the time of the theft until police saw him in the stolen car. In Steven Shelby v. State of Indiana, 49A05-0704-CR-202, Shelby appealed his conviction and sentence of auto theft, a Class D felony, and the trial court’s finding him to be a habitual offender. On Nov. 7,2006,…

Interviews for COA spot start today

The Judicial Nominating Commission has started interviewing for a future opening on the Indiana Court of Appeals.This afternoon, the seven-member commission began interviewing eight candidates for the seat currently occupied by Judge Patrick D. Sullivan, who retires in August. Interviews are scheduled from 3 to 6 p.m. and will resume with another 12 interviews Tuesday morning.Candidates being interviewed today are Susan E. Boatright, juvenile division supervisor at the Marion County Public Defender Agency; Briane M. House with ProLiance Energy; Marion Superior…

Indiana Supreme Court denies review of Kokomo case

Within hours of hearing oral arguments, the Indiana Supreme Court decided not to grant transfer to review the case involving a Kokomo fire captain ;s demotion to firefighter because of comments made from outside the department. The appeals court had ruled the demotion did not constitute a violation of his First Amendment free-speech rights.The court had not released a decision by early this afternoon, but the City of Kokomo had posted a press release saying the justices did not agree to…