New state laws ban drivers holding phones, hike marriage age
Using a handheld cellphone while driving will become illegal on Indiana roads under a new state law taking effect Wednesday.
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Indiana fugitive takes off in semi, is killed after 3-hour standoff
A fugitive from Whiteland who was riding in a tractor-trailer that had been pulled over on an interstate near Hazleton, Pennsylvania, led authorities on a brief chase and held them at bay with gunfire for three hours until they finally shot and killed him, officials said.
SCOTUS rules president can fire Consumer board head at will
In a ruling underscoring the power of the president, the Supreme Court on Monday made it easier for the president to fire the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The justices struck down restrictions Congress had written on when the president can remove the bureau’s director.
Federal court blocks Indiana panhandling law
In an order that noted Americans exercising their First Amendment rights against racial inequality and quoting Frederick Douglass on the sacred right of free speech, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday preventing Indiana’s new panhandling law from taking effect Wednesday.
Holcomb extends eviction, foreclosure moratorium until July 31
Gov. Eric Holcomb on Tuesday extended Indiana’s moratorium on housing evictions for one month, through the end of July, continuing a prohibition put in place in March due to financial hardships wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
7th Circuit rejects convicted killer’s habeas petition over uncommunicated plea deal
A convicted killer lost his appeal in a federal habeas case in which he claimed he was entitled to relief from a 65-year prison sentence because his lawyer failed to convey a plea deal before he was convicted after a second trial.
Justices reinstate 45-year sentence despite trial court sentencing comments
The Indiana Supreme Court has reinstated a 45-year sentence against a man convicted in a point-blank shooting in northern Indiana, overturning a Court of Appeals decision that had reduced the sentence.
Judgment against widow in late husband’s workplace injury suit upheld
The widow of a man who sued his employer after a fall at a construction site failed to convince the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that a federal district court ruled for her late husband’s employer.
7th Circuit finds judge misapplied prison rule without explanation
A judge who overturned prison discipline for an inmate who wrote an unauthorized check to a fellow inmate’s family member left a panel of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals puzzled in a brief reversal Monday.
COA: No error in Decatur County divorce terms
The terms of a Decatur County divorce have been upheld on appeal, with the Indiana Court of Appeal rejecting arguments from both exes that the trial court erred in assessing and dividing assets and liabilities.
COA reverses denial of elderly man’s Medicaid application
An elderly man living in a nursing home was wrongly denied Medicaid benefits, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday, reversing a decision from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration.
Appeals court affirms battery-by-bodily fluid statute includes spitting
An inmate who spat on a correctional officer lost his appeal Tuesday in which he argued, among other things, that Indiana’s battery by bodily fluid statute is unconstitutional for vagueness.
St. Joseph County judiciary pledges to address racial inequities
In response to the statement from Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush, the St. Joseph Circuit, Superior and Probate courts have made a commitment to do better and improve justice for persons of color.
SCOTUS: Booking.com can trademark its name
The Supreme Court says travel website Booking.com can trademark its name, a ruling that also impacts other companies whose name is a generic word followed by “.com.”
Supreme Court lifts ban on state aid to religious schooling
The Supreme Court on Tuesday made it easier for religious schools to obtain public funds, upholding a Montana scholarship program that allows state tax credits for private schooling.
Women sue 4 Indianapolis officers, claiming excessive force amid protests
Two women have filed an excessive force lawsuit against four Indianapolis police officers after video was released of officers using batons and pepper balls to subdue the women at a protest last month over the death of George Floyd.
Indiana regulators deny utilities’ bid for virus relief
Indiana regulators Monday denied a request from utilities to charge ratepayers for revenue the companies expect to lose because of the coronavirus pandemic. Officials also extended a moratorium on utility service disconnection through mid-August.
Two northern Indiana counties take action on face masks
Two adjacent northern Indiana counties have implemented or extended orders requiring people to wear face masks to impede the spread of the coronavirus.
Southern Indiana District sets reopening for July 6
The federal courthouses in the Southern Indiana District will reopen to the public July 6 and in-person court proceedings will begin resuming on a staggered schedule. All individuals will be required to answer screening questions to be allowed inside courthouses and to wear facemasks in all public spaces.
New and improved PACER system unveiled
The electronic PACER federal court records system is sporting a new look and improved functions as part of its first major upgrade in a decade. New features are touted as enabling users to more easily navigate the system, more quickly find what they are seeking, and get better access on their mobile devices. The upgrade also is designed to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.