Indiana lawmakers back dropping tests in teacher evaluations
Indiana legislators have voted to end the mandatory use of student standardized test results in teacher evaluations, dropping a requirement long opposed by teachers.
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IndyBar: Indy Lawyer-Legislators Talk Details of Session at Esteemed Lawyer-Legislator Luncheon
Plans and updates from the 2020 Indiana General Assembly were hot topics of discussion at the Lawyer-Legislator Luncheon on February 25. More than 20 key players in this year’s session spoke about important pending legislation and answered questions from fellow IndyBar members and lawyers.
Businesses increasingly feeling heat to disclose climate risks
The national and international conversations about the impacts of climate change have focused largely on initiatives designed to curb greenhouse gas and other potentially harmful emissions. But there’s also an increasingly popular business aspect to the conversation.
AG Hill’s ethical, political limbo leaves leaders guessing
The only thing certain in the discipline case against Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is uncertainty. That’s the consensus of legislative and political leaders responding to the recommendation that the Republican AG serve a 60-day suspension without automatic reinstatement.
Klein: Indy gives IU McKinney opportunities for statewide impact
One advantage of legal education in an urban environment is that students have opportunities to gain hands-on experience in addition to receiving top-notch classroom instruction. At Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, students also make a real difference in the lives of Hoosiers throughout our city and state.
IndyBar: IndyBarHQ at 140 N. Illinois St. Opens March 6
After years of planning, months of renovation and weeks of moving, the new IndyBar Headquarters—IndyBarHQ—will open for business on March 6.
Oleksy: Silence isn’t golden – the power of feedback
For those of us who manage employees, how we engage (or don’t engage) them impacts how our work gets done.
Hammerle on … “The Call of the Wild,” “The Last Full Measure”
Defense attorney Bob Hammerle says both “The Call of the Wild” and “The Last Full Measure” will likely bring a tear to your eye.
Indiana’s ‘IDEA’ touted as replacement for Crosscheck
After a federal appellate court stopped Indiana’s process for removing ineligible voters from the registration rolls, the state is still looking for a way to clean its voter lists. But a new system being considered by the Legislature is not gaining support among voting rights groups and could spark more litigation.
Bont: Baseball, politics and the curveballs of crime and punishment
Much like baseball players, politicians (or political operatives) are making headlines for not playing the game by the rules.
Federal legislation would grow, sustain veterans court programs
As veterans court programs expand nationwide, the federal government is exploring opportunities to provide additional resources to local courts. If enacted, the Veteran Treatment Court Coordination Act of 2019 would task the Department of Justice with establishing an office to provide additional funding and technical assistance to veterans courts.
Roughly 1 in 5 current Indiana legislators initially sent to Statehouse by party caucus
From 2017 through 2019, nine legislators exited the Statehouse before their terms expired, requiring the state’s caucus system to ramp up to handle the large number of vacancies and bringing renewed attention to political party processes that choose who will represent voters. At present, 21.3% of Indiana legislators first entered the Statehouse through a caucus election.
Lawmakers honor retiring Judge Baker with jokes, well wishes
A staple of the Indiana judiciary for more than 40 years, Indiana Court of Appeals Judge John G. Baker was honored by members of the Legislature ahead of his impending retirement.
Web Exclusive: Pendleton inmate wins $425K solitary settlement with help from Chicago, pro bono attorneys
A Pendleton Correctional Facility inmate will be paid $425,000 by the state after spending four years in isolation for a disciplinary violation he says he didn’t commit. But the settlement might not have been agreed upon without the help of a Chicago-based justice center that says it advocates for underdogs.
Indiana Court decisions – Feb. 13-26, 2020
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the most recent reporting period.
DTCI: Indiana Employers, Out of State Employees, and Legal Marijuana Use
Currently, Indiana employers must cautiously navigate a maze of different marijuana laws affecting their employees working across state lines. This is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future.
Thomas: EPA declares war against aftermarket defeat devices
Volkswagen’s recent emissions scandal triggered criminal and civil prosecution by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In 2017, Volkswagen’s estimated cost resulting from the scandal was more than $30 billion, and that number is growing. In the wake of this scandal, the EPA has declared “war” on an entire subindustry — aftermarket parts — and anyone who manufactures, sells or installs devices that allow drivers to tamper with their vehicle emissions.
Judges portrayed as aggressors in gunman’s self-defense claim
Did Brandon Kaiser pull the trigger on two Indiana judges only after they attacked him and placed him in fear for his life? He claims in court filings they did. But even as the judges involved in the now-infamous brawl have retaken the bench after brief suspensions, video that could prove conclusive remains under a court seal.
Legislation, lawsuits used to combat Indiana’s lead problem as contamination cases persist
Organizations and individuals around Indiana have been pushing for a solution to the lead problem. The toxin is everywhere and exposure, especially in very young children, can cause lifelong cognitive impairment.
Karen Bravo to become first person of color, second woman to lead IU McKinney
Following a nine-month search that brought hundreds of applications, the best person to lead Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law was found to be someone who was already a member of its family. Karen Bravo, vice dean and director of the master of jurisprudence degree program, has been tapped to be IU McKinney’s new dean starting July 1.