Gary officer indicted for deprivation of civil rights against arrestee
A former Gary police officer is facing a federal criminal charge for allegedly slamming a citizen’s head against a vehicle during an arrest.
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Virus cut access to courts but opened door to virtual future
A year-and-a-half into the coronavirus pandemic, courts across the U.S. are still grappling with how to balance public health concerns with the constitutional rights of a defendant and the public to have an open trial.
Indiana Supreme Court unveils eviction diversion program
The Indiana Supreme Court has established a statewide pre-eviction diversion program, mandating that trial courts offer the service to landlords and tenants when a petition for eviction is filed.
Teen convicted in Porter Co. slayings loses appeal of convictions, but sentence reduced for double jeopardy
A teenager convicted of killing two people in a drug deal-turned-robbery has lost his appeal of his murder convictions and 150-plus-year sentence, though that sentence will be slightly reduced after the Indiana Court of Appeals threw out an attempted robbery conviction on double jeopardy grounds.
Alabama man put to death for 1991 killing of woman
An Alabama man who avoided execution in February was put to death Thursday after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a request for a stay by his lawyers, who had argued the execution should be blocked on grounds that he had an intellectual disability.
Family of Black man killed by South Bend officer taking civil rights case to 7th Circuit
The family of a Black South Bend man who was fatally shot more than two years ago by a white police officer plans to ask the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a ruling in favor of the officer.
Marion County courts, jail get ready for big move
Thousands of objects must be moved. Typical office stuff like cabinets, chairs, desks and computers, but also an organ and a baptismal font. And people, too, including some 2,400 inmates. That’s what happens when a major city relocates the bulk of its criminal justice system to an entirely new site.
Court again lets Texas continue banning most abortions
Texas can continue banning most abortions after a federal appeals court rejected the Biden administration’s latest attempt to stop a novel law that has become the nation’s biggest curb to abortion in nearly 50 years.
Hearing set abruptly in 2018 Florida school massacre case
A last-minute court hearing is set Friday in Florida for Nikolas Cruz, the man police said has confessed to the 2018 massacre of 17 people at a suburban high school.
Kids’ Voice receives state GAL/CASA certification
Kids’ Voice has met the requirements and has been certified as a GAL/CASA service provider by the state, allowing the city of Indianapolis to be partially reimbursed for the nearly three-year $5.4 million contract it awarded the nonprofit in May.
7th Circuit judges St. Eve, Scudder named Judicial Conference committee chairs
Two 7th Circuit Court of Appeals judges have been selected to serve as chairs of Judicial Conference committees, United States Chief Justice John Roberts announced Thursday.
Attorney fees reversed in repossessed car dispute
The Indiana Court of Appeals upheld the damages awarded to a Tippecanoe County man who had his ride repossessed one summer night but remanded for attorney fees to be recalculated to a lower amount.
Indiana woman linked to QAnon to be jailed for Capitol rioting
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has sentenced Dona Sue Bissey of Bloomfield, to 14 days of incarceration and 60 hours of community service for her involvement during the Jan. 6.
COA: Default judgment proper in arbitration case
A Crawford County man waived his right to arbitration by failing to respond to an estate’s motion to compel arbitration, making a default judgment by the trial court appropriate, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled.
Juvenile LWOP discussed by interim study committee
The Indiana Senate Interim Study Committee on Corrections and Criminal Code met Tuesday to discuss topics surrounding juvenile justice, including sentencing to life without parole.
Dylann Roof’s request to reconsider recusal is denied
Dylann Roof’s chances for a new appellate hearing continue to dwindle, with a court refusing to reconsider recusing itself from his appeal over his death sentence and conviction in the 2015 racist slayings of nine members of a Black South Carolina congregation.
Justices seem set to revive marathon bomber’s death sentence
The Supreme Court sounded ready Wednesday to reinstate the death penalty for convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
Longtime 7th Circuit executive Fitzpatrick retires after 50 years
Collins Fitzpatrick, who initially served as a law clerk at the 7th Circuit in 1971, would later become the federal judiciary’s longest-serving circuit executive to date. After serving in that position for 45 years, Fitzpatrick retired Sept. 28 — leaving behind a legacy that both judges and attorneys alike argue will be hard to replicate.
ABA issues guidance to lawyers regarding clients with language differences
The American Bar Association has released a set of guidelines attorneys can follow when they don’t speak the same language as their clients.
OWI charges filed against Muncie police officer
A Muncie police officer who allegedly drove with a blood alcohol content of more than twice the legal limit while on the job is now facing misdemeanor drunken driving charges.