State panel begins work to find lawyer shortage solutions
Expanded roles for paralegals are among the options being considered by the 23-member Commission on Indiana’s Legal Future, which was appointed by the Indiana Supreme Court.
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Web Exclusive: Meet the judges: Brown Circuit Court Judge Mary Wertz
Mary Wertz, the Brown Circuit Court judge, said her father’s pressure to make a career change influenced her decision to go to law school.
Vacancy looms as federal judge heads toward senior status
It’s taken a little longer than expected for the Biden Administration to announce a nominee for the Indiana Southern District Court’s impending vacancy.
Softer federal stance on marijuana could boost legalization efforts in Indiana
With the federal government’s recent announcement that it intends to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug with potential medical benefits, some advocates wonder if that could be the game changer that opens the floodgates for legalization in Indiana’s 2025 legislative session.
Notre Dame Law School, University of Cape Town partner on human rights research and more
The two schools have solidified a new partnership that will allow faculty and students to collaborate on legal topics of interest to their respective countries and to travel to each other’s schools, furthering the educational experience. One key focus will be human rights.
Web Exclusive: Meet the Judges: Dearborn and Ohio Circuit Judge Aaron Negangard
Serving as the only circuit court judge in two counties is not an easy task, but Aaron Negangard said he manages.
Web Exclusive: Meet the Judges: Orange Superior Court Judge Debra Andry
For almost two decades before launching her legal career, Orange Superior Court Judge Debra Andry was a nurse.
Water systems, manufacturers brace for limits on ‘forever’ chemicals
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency took a historic step in April to protect communities from so-called “forever chemicals,” with the federal agency releasing a final rule that established legally enforceable limits.
Small, solo firms grapple with data security, costs
One of the big challenges with data security is keeping in compliance with the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct, which deal with confidentiality of information in the attorney-client relationship.
Thomas Estabrook juggles law school, mayoral duties
Estabrook, who is entering his third year of law school, said the biggest challenge has been time management.
Web Exclusive: Meet the Judges: Harrison Superior Court Judge Joseph Claypool
The Harrison Superior Court judge said when he was in graduate school he first wanted to be a dentist. Then, his grandmother—whose husband was former Indiana Attorney General Philip Lutz Jr.—told him he should have a career in law.
‘Flaming moderates’: Many say Indiana courts remain centrist despite heavy GOP tilt
Many say the state’s merit selection process tends to produce a pool of centrist judicial candidates for the governor to choose from and appoint to the Indiana Supreme Court and Court of Appeals
Corporate transparency: New federal law imposes reporting requirements on some businesses
The law is intended to provide law enforcement with ownership information about many companies for the purpose of detecting, preventing and punishing terrorism, money laundering and other misconduct through business entities.
Development slowly emerges at Indy’s justice campus
The neighborhood Kroger is being renovated, hopes are high for a new restaurant and a $2.1 million trail will soon connect the campus to downtown.
Cameras in courtrooms: Will the judge in the Delphi double-murder trial allow them?
Broadcasters and court officials generally report positive experiences under the state’s new camera rules, but the true test likely will come in May when Richard Allen goes on trial for the slayings of two teenage girls near Delphi.
Learning to be a mediator: ‘It’s not Judge Judy’
From neighborhood disputes to landlord-tenant quarrels, the Indy Center for Conflict Resolution works to solve issues in Indianapolis before they escalate.
Web Exclusive: Meet the Judges: Warren Circuit Court Judge Hunter Reece
With a passion for community outreach, Warren Circuit Court Judge Hunter Reece said he enjoys being on the bench and finds it important to get more attorneys into rural communities.
Companies seek liability protection for top execs
A growing number of companies in Indiana and elsewhere are hoping to offer new legal protection for top executives following a 2022 change in Delaware’s corporation law.
Maley: Summary judgment procedures in Indiana’s federal courts
Local Rules 56-1 in the Southern District of Indiana and Northern District of Indiana govern summary judgment procedure and are critical in summary judgment practice. Both similarly require the movant to support its motion with a statement of material facts not in dispute with supporting evidence.
Indiana businesses win new protections from lawsuits
Tweaks to tort law were among the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s top legislative priorities this year, but not everyone was happy with all of the tort-related changes that came out of the Indiana General Assembly.