Tribes, states seek review of Native child adoptions case
The U.S. Supreme Court has been asked to review a case that centers on whether Native Americans should receive preference in adoptions of Native children.
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Dylann Roof seeks rehearing on church shooting conviction
Dylann Roof has filed the next step in his federal appeal, challenging a court’s confirmation of his conviction and death sentence for the 2015 racist slayings of nine members of a Black South Carolina congregation.
Charleston church shooter’s death sentence upheld
A federal appeals court Wednesday upheld Dylann Roof’s conviction and death sentence for the 2015 racist slayings of nine members of a Black South Carolina congregation, saying the legal record cannot even capture the “full horror” of what he did.
Fired Roncalli counselor Starkey appeal brings ‘ministerial exception’ back to 7th Circuit
Lynn Starkey, the long-time educator fired from Roncalli High School for being married to a woman, is appealing a decision from the Southern Indiana District Court that is potentially the first to extend the “ministerial exception” to cover school guidance counselors.
Appeals court upholds murder conviction of ex-Dallas officer
A Texas appeals court on Thursday upheld the murder conviction of a former Dallas police officer who was sentenced to prison for fatally shooting her neighbor in his home.
IU students ask 7th Circuit to enjoin vaccine mandate pending appeal
A group of Indiana University students challenging the school’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate is asking the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to stay enforcement of the mandate after failing in their bid for relief from a lower court.
IU students taking vaccine mandate fight to 7th Circuit, seeking stay of enforcement
A group of Indiana University students is taking a challenge to the school’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals after an Indiana district court declined to enjoin the mandate. The students are also asking federal judges to stay enforcement of the mandate while the appeal proceeds.
State tells court enhanced benefits harming state’s economy, appeals reinstatement order
Echoing Gov. Eric Holcomb, the state of Indiana is telling the Indiana Court of Appeals that providing enhanced federal unemployment benefits to jobless Hoosiers is harming the state’s economic recovery because the extra money is enabling some to stay out of the workforce.
20 states including Indiana support South Carolina in abortion lawsuit
Twenty states including Indiana are supporting South Carolina’s defense of a new abortion law, arguing in an amicus brief that a federal judge was wrong to pause the entire measure instead of just the provision facing a court challenge.
Rokita seeks appeal of order allowing governor’s lawsuit against General Assembly to proceed
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed an appeal just days after a Marion County judge denied his request to do away with a complaint filed by Gov. Eric Holcomb against the Indiana General Assembly.
Appeal seeks to let Indiana quit federal jobless programs
Attorneys for the state argue that Indiana’s economic recovery will “suffer irreparable harm” unless an appeals court overturns a judge’s order that the state must continue the federal government’s pandemic unemployment benefits programs.
Bill Cosby’s sex assault conviction overturned by court
Pennsylvania’s highest court overturned Bill Cosby’s sex assault conviction Wednesday after finding an agreement with a previous prosecutor prevented him from being charged in the case.
Charleston church shooter making appellate arguments
The man on federal death row for the racist slayings of nine members of a Black South Carolina congregation is making his appellate argument that his conviction and death sentence should be overturned.
Man convicted of child porn not entitled to relief over criminal procedure rule, restitution dispute
A debate over a federal criminal procedure rule and a restitution order did not sway a 7th Circuit Court of Appeals panel, which upheld a man’s conviction and sentence for child pornography.
Justices reject appeal to make public Indianapolis’ Amazon HQ2 offer
The Indiana Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from a tax trade publication that sought disclosure of tax dollars and incentives Indianapolis and the state offered Amazon in the city’s failed attempt to lure the online retail giant’s coveted second headquarters project known as HQ2.
NCAA bid to shield executives from concussion suit depositions dismissed
Indianapolis-based NCAA’s appeal seeking to bar depositions of key executives in a concussion-injury lawsuit filed by the estates of former college football players was dismissed Tuesday. A divided Indiana Court of Appeals panel found the appeal untimely.
SCOTUS denies juvenile LWOP sentence appeal in 1994 Ball State murder
The United States Supreme Court waited exactly three years to reject the appeal petition of a defendant sentenced to life without parole for a murder he committed near Ball State University 27 years ago when he was 17.
Attorney suspended 90 days after second domestic violence conviction
A Logansport lawyer who was convicted for a second time of beating his wife will have his law license suspended for 90 days with automatic reinstatement, the Indiana Supreme Court has ruled.
Census Bureau: 70% of voters cast ballots early or by mail
More than two-thirds of all U.S. citizens of the voting age population participated in the 2020 presidential election, according to a new U.S. Census Bureau report, and 69% of those cast ballots by mail or early in-person voting — methods that Republicans in some states are curtailing.
Wary Supreme Court weighs student’s Snapchat profanity case
A wary Supreme Court on Wednesday weighed whether public schools can discipline students for things they say off campus, worrying about overly restricting speech on the one hand and leaving educators powerless to deal with bullying on the other.