Articles

Raising the bar: Incoming ISBA President Henderzahs stresses partnerships, professionalism

Leslie Henderzahs says Indiana State Bar Association members often realize the value of the association when they least expect it. The incoming ISBA president cited as an example a recent proposal that Indiana lawyers provide their cellphone numbers with their Roll of Attorneys registrations. Few proposals have prompted such an outcry from attorneys, and Henderzahs said the state bar acted promptly.

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Indiana takes steps to improve water sustainability

Hoosier lawmakers, utilities and water policy lawyers in recent years have begun to look more closely at supply and demand. Legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2019, for example, ties certain funding sources to evidence of effective water study and communication. Meanwhile, some of the state’s biggest utilities have begun efforts to increase collaboration so that water resources might be shared.

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Rush plans to further initiatives in second term

Ask the justices how they would describe the last five years at the Indiana Supreme Court, and they’ll tell you they’ve seen some changes. There’s been an internal reorganization, a major technology initiative and a national drug crisis to contend with, but they think their institution has successfully charted its path.

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Are noncompetes overly broad?

This year, a group of unions, employment law attorneys and other labor organizations petitioned the Federal Trade Commission to ban noncompete agreements. But while there are some instances where a restrictive covenant can be too restrictive, experts say there are also instances where noncompete clauses are legitimate.

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Law schools tweaking, innovating admissions process as numbers rise

Ever since the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law began accepting GRE scores in lieu of the LSAT in 2016, the list of law schools that consider applicants who submit only Graduate Record Exam results is growing. So are the other innovative ways law schools in Indiana and elsewhere are measuring the likely success of potential students.

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Web Exclusive: ‘Low bono’ clinic seeks to fill access-to-justice gap

Growing up in a five-person home, Bloomington attorney Jamie Sutton’s family had an on-again, off-again relationship with welfare and social assistance programs. His firm, Justice Unlocked, offers “low-bono” services — representation on a sliding fee scale that low- to middle-income individuals who earn too much to qualify for pro bono services can afford.

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Purdue ruling first in flood of campus sex assault appeals

As the number of lawsuits filed by male college students fighting expulsion for alleged sexual assaults grows, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has finally weighed in, reviving a case against Purdue University after it found that the Boilermakers’ disciplinary process for determining guilt “fell short of what even a high school must provide a student facing a days-long suspension.”

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Cooper out, county moving on

Former Johnson County Prosecutor Bradley Cooper told his domestic violence victim and former fiancée in court on July 17, “I did it. I did it all,” as a judge accepted his guilty plea to felony counts that terminated his ability to serve in his elected office and jeopardize his license to practice law. Cooper’s longtime deputy, Joe Villanueva, was sworn in the same day as interim prosecutor.

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Judge William Lawrence puts down gavel, calls it a career

Through his nearly 17 years on the federal bench, Judge William T. Lawrence often set aside his work and welcomed into his chambers young attorneys who had arrived seeking his advice, counsel and encouragement. At his recent retirement celebration, his Southern Indiana District Court colleagues said Lawrence was fair, smart and always kind.

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