Man loses post-conviction appeal seeking probation, not parole
A man who unsuccessfully argued that he should be released to parole rather than probation failed to persuade the Indiana Court of Appeals on Thursday.
Adams County
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Republicans win big in Indiana from Statehouse to courthouses
Although the results of the United States presidential race were delayed well beyond Election Night, Hoosiers learned the winners of several state and local races soon after the polls closed as Republicans secured their grip on state and federal offices.
Man gets 55 years for slaying girlfriend ‘to stop sick god’
A northeastern Indiana who stabbed his girlfriend more than two dozen times “to stop the sick god” was sentenced Wednesday to 55 years in prison.
Adams Co. judge receives public reprimand for judicial misconduct
The judge of the Adams County Drug Court has received a public reprimand from the Indiana Supreme Court after being found in violation of four judicial ethics rules related to his dispute with other county officials on behalf of his drug court coordinator.
Adams County drug court judge abused office, discipline charges say
A northeastern Indiana judge who intervened on behalf of an employee of his drug court in a dispute with other county officials over her benefits committed judicial misconduct, an agency of the Indiana Supreme Court alleged Friday.
COA heads to Adams Co. to hear hit-and-run case
The Indiana Court of Appeals will travel northeast next week to hear arguments in a case involving a man charged in a fatal hit-and-run.
Ex-public defender reinstated after harassment suspension
A former Adams County chief public defender who was suspended from the practice of law for harassing an ex-girlfriend has been reinstated to the practice of law by the Indiana Supreme Court. A hearing officer in the attorney’s case had concluded the lawyer’s prescribed antidepressant Prozac had triggered his misconduct.
Cash held by state shutters domestic violence shelters
A much longer-than-ordinary delay funneling state and federal grant dollars through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute to domestic violence agencies has had dire results for many, causing at least one shelter for victims of abuse to close.
Another suspension for Decatur lawyer jailed for forgery, counterfeiting
The Indiana Supreme Court has again suspended a Decatur attorney from the practice of law in Indiana following a finding of her guilt for committing two felonies.
COA’s error leads to rehearing, affirmation of TPR reversal
The Indiana Court of Appeals admitted it made an erroneous statement in reversing a termination of parental rights order and granted the Department of Child Services’ request for a rehearing. But the appellate panel Wednesday affirmed its initial opinion, concluding the error had no bearing its original ruling that a mother’s due process rights were violated.
Decatur lawyer convicted of forgery, counterfeiting suspended again
A Decatur lawyer sentenced to nearly nine months for forgery and counterfeiting convictions and disciplined five separate times last year has again been indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in Indiana for noncooperation. The Indiana Supreme Court indefinitely suspended Jill N. Holtzclaw on Thursday, effective immediately.
Decatur lawyer sentenced to jail for forgery, counterfeiting
A suspended northern Indiana lawyer was sentenced Friday to nearly nine months in jail for forging a judge’s signature on a phony divorce order and sending a client a bogus email that she represented as coming from a deputy prosecutor. Jill Holtzclaw of Decatur was sentenced to serve 270 days behind bars followed by a year of probation for her convictions of Level 6 felony counts of forgery and counterfeiting.
Lawyer facing jail time for forgery, counterfeiting
A northern Indiana lawyer could be sentenced to nearly two years in jail after she pleaded guilty Tuesday to forging a judge’s name on a phony divorce decree and sending a bogus email bearing a deputy prosecutor’s name. Jill N. Holtzclaw of Decatur pleaded guilty to Level 6 felony counts of forgery and counterfeiting Tuesday in Adams Superior Court.
Attorney charged with forgery gets fifth suspension of 2018
A northern Indiana attorney charged with felony forgery of a judge’s signature received her fifth suspension of the year for failure to cooperate with another Disciplinary Commission investigation of a grievance against her. Four of the suspensions remain active.
Split COA affirms denial of court employee’s contempt motion, awards appellate fees
A split Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of a drug court coordinator’s claims that an auditor was in contempt of court, finding the coordinator’s claims were frivolous and her excessive filings were unreasonable. As such, the majority awarded appellate attorney’s fees to the auditor.
Justices answer venue question in lifetime license forfeiture relief case
Indiana Supreme Court justices on Wednesday ruled that trial courts have jurisdiction to grant specialized driving privileges as relief from driver’s license suspensions imposed in other counties.
Suspended lawyer accused of forgery disciplined again
The Indiana Supreme Court on Wednesday again suspended from the practice of law a northern Indiana lawyer who is charged with felony forgery and was found to be noncooperative with another Disciplinary Commission investigation of a grievance against her.
Decatur attorney accused of forging judge’s signature suspended
An attorney in northeastern Indiana has been suspended from the practice of law after she was criminally charged. The lawyer has been accused of signing a judge’s name to a phony order in a divorce case and sending emails to an expungement client’s widow posing as a deputy prosecutor.
Law limiting short-term rental regulations by cities may face test from Carmel, others
As the popularity of short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO has increased, local governments across the country have stepped in to regulate when and where their residents can lease their homes to temporary guests. Indiana cities have been no exception, but the 2018 General Assembly limited the extent to which municipalities can regulate the local short-term rental industry.
Indiana Court Decisions — March 15-28, 2018
7th Circuit Court of Appeals March 21 Civil Plenary — Establishment Clause Freedom From Religion Foundation v. Concord Community Schools 17-1591, 17-1683 An Elkhart high school’s traditional “Christmas Spectacular” production that was canceled by a northern Indiana federal court because of its overt religiosity, then passed muster when Christian elements no longer took a leading […]