Wayne Co. chief probation officer appointed to children’s commission
An eastern Indiana probation officer has been appointed to represent the juvenile probation system on the Indiana Commission on Improving the Status of Children.
Chief Justice Loretta Rush
-
Female judges encourage women to seek out the bench, become ‘seed planters’
Women who aspire to become judges need mentors and role models to help show the way. One longtime Indiana appellate judge shared the value of such encouragement that speaks to the experience of many female jurists: “She saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. That caused me to apply.”
Read More -
Web Exclusive: Lawyers, judges offer tips on how to get the most out of judicial clerkship
At a time when judges are interviewing and hiring to fill upcoming judicial clerkship positions, some former and current law clerks are reflecting on their own experiences and offering suggestions to newcomers on how to prepare.
Read More -
Through friendships, visits, Ginsburg became part of Indiana legal history
The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg made many visits to Indiana during her tenure on the Supreme Court. She had friendships with the law professors and deans at the law schools in the Hoosier State, and she influenced law students, lawyers and judges across the state. “Imagine a young law student faced with the challenge by a Supreme Court Justice,” recalled a former IU Maruer law student who is now a federal judge.
Read More -
Online admission ceremony celebrates new lawyers, honors Justice Ginsburg
The Indiana Supreme Court hosted the Fall 2020 Bar Admission Ceremony by videoconference Monday in keeping with safeguards of hosting once events online amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the speakers encouraged new Indiana lawyers to look to the example of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Read More
Articles
Supreme Court grants transfer to condo dispute, South Shore Line negligence claim
The Indiana Supreme Court has agreed to consider cases involving allegations of faulty construction at a South Bend condo complex and a negligence claim against the operator of the northern Indiana South Shore Line.
Starke Co. Magistrate Judge Calabrese certified for senior status
The Indiana Supreme Court has certified senior judge status for Starke Circuit Court Magistrate Judge Jeanene Calabrese.
COA candidates express personal, professional opinions during second round of interviews
Before selecting three finalists to move up to Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s desk for review to become the next judge of the Indiana Court of Appeals, 12 candidates sat before the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission on Tuesday to be interviewed for the post.
Rush dissents from transfer in moot bail case, says denial would preserve ‘valuable’ COA ruling
A majority of the Indiana Supreme Court has granted transfer and dismissed as moot an appeal challenging a bail ruling, but Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush penned a partial dissent opining that the grant of transfer vacates a “valuable” Court of Appeals analysis.
Commission announces second round of interviews for Kirsch vacancy
The Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission will reconvene next month for a full day of interviews with the 12 candidates vying to succeed Judge James Kirsch on the Indiana Court of Appeals.
New lawyers express their gratitude during admission ceremony
Like the two previous admission ceremonies, the Tuesday induction for the new admittees to the Indiana bar was held virtually. But this time, along with introducing themselves to the state and federal judiciary, the freshly minted lawyers took a few minutes to thank those who helped them get to this day.
Split Supreme Court upholds denial of LWOP defendant’s pro se request
A Boone County murder defendant convicted and sentenced to life without parole failed to convince a majority of the Indiana Supreme Court that the trial court improperly denied his request to proceed pro se. The majority provided an analysis for considering pro se requests in capital and LWOP sentences, but minority justices raised concerns about the majority “till(ing) new constitutional soil.”
JLAP: Bar application changes promote mental health
When speaking to students at law schools, we repeatedly emphasize that they should never avoid counseling or treatment because they fear it would prevent their admission to the bar. To the contrary, the willingness to seek mental treatment demonstrates that an applicant has the maturity to do the right thing when confronting life’s daily challenges.
JNC to interview candidates to succeed Kirsch on COA in May
All 23 lawyers and judges who applied to succeed Judge James Kirsch on the Indiana Court of Appeals will be interviewed by the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission next month.
Justices grant transfer to 2 cases, including first impression search warrant question
The Indiana Supreme Court has granted transfer to two cases, including one case presenting an issue of first impression as to whether law enforcement can establish probable cause for a search warrant based only on the smell of marijuana.
Rush’s State of the Judiciary, released as online video, focuses on pandemic response
While the COVID-19 pandemic ruled out the traditional State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the Indiana General Assembly in January, Chief Justice Loretta Rush’s address for 2021 released Wednesday takes the form of a video featuring judges and court officers discussing how the judiciary “adapted and innovated.”
Justices: Juvenile convicted of attempted murder failed to show parent ‘essential’
When juvenile defendants are tried in adult court, parents who are also witnesses may be excluded from witness-separation orders if their children establish them as “essential” to the presentation of evidence, the Indiana Supreme Court has ruled. However, applying that holding to the facts of the case before them, justices concluded an Elkhart County teen failed to establish his mom was “essential” to his attempted murder defense.
In 3-2 split, justices deny woman’s self-defense claim in murder
An Indianapolis woman who was convicted of murder after her manslaughter plea was rejected when she claimed self-defense could not persuade a majority of the Indiana Supreme Court last week to hear her appeal.
Justices vacate judge’s recent orders in case alleging law firm estate theft
The Indiana Supreme Court on Friday vacated orders of a trial court judge in a case involving a former law firm’s alleged theft from an estate. The case brought by a Jasper County charity that claims it was defrauded of a bequest is proceeding before a new judge.
Lawyer suspended 20 years ago gets conditional reinstatement
An Indianapolis lawyer who was suspended more than 20 years ago has been conditionally reinstated to the Indiana bar. The reinstated attorney is permitted to practice on a probationary period.
New online court hearing calendar in use by more than 30 counties
The Indiana Supreme Court has launched a new online tool providing information about daily dockets for courts in more than 30 Indiana counties. The tool follows court rules requiring courts to make daily calendars public and permitting courts to livestream proceedings due to COVID-19.
Justices split, let stand rulings against DOC over death penalty secrecy
The Indiana Supreme Court has evenly split in a long-running dispute over disclosure of records concerning the state’s lethal injection drugs, clearing the way for disclosure of the records and the payment by the state of more than a half-million dollars in legal fees.
Bill challenging ‘noncompliant’ prosecutors clears Indiana Senate
A controversial bill that would allow the Indiana attorney general to request a special prosecutor if elected prosecutors become “noncompliant” passed the Indiana Senate on Tuesday. Senate Bill 200 is now headed to the Indiana House for further consideration.
Justices rule for company in dispute with ex-officer over share value
A dispute over the valuation of shares has been resolved in favor of a company after the Indiana Supreme Court upheld the discounts that were applied to the valuation. The former company partner who sued previously won a Court of Appeals ruling that increased the value of his shares by more than $1 million.