COA to host Tavitas robing ceremony next week
Newest Indiana Court of Appeals Judge Elizabeth F. Tavitas will be ceremonially sworn into office next week when the court hosts a public robing ceremony.
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Public Defender Commission announces legislative priorities
The Indiana Public Defender Commission has announced plans to begin a legislative effort intended to stir statewide public defense reform, a decision that comes on the heels of a task force report that highlighted shortcomings in the Hoosier indigent defense system.
Ford’s lawyers submit 4 affidavits backing up assault story
Christine Blasey Ford’s lawyers said Wednesday they have given the Senate sworn affidavits from four people who say she told them well before Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination that she had been sexually assaulted when she was much younger.
Three magistrate finalists named for Lake County judgeship
Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb will select one of three magistrate judges to fill the vacancy on the Lake Superior Court created when Judge Elizabeth Tavitas was appointed to the Indiana Court of Appeals this summer. The Lake County Judicial Nominating Commission late Tuesday named magistrate judges Lisa A. Berdine, Thomas P. Hallett and Nanette K. Raduenz as finalists to succeed Tavitas in Lake Superior Court 3, family division.
Indiana Supreme Court greenlights blocked railroad crossings
A unanimous Indiana Supreme Court sent a message Tuesday to Hoosier motorists stuck at railroad crossings waiting for trains to pass: relax, you’re going to be there awhile. The court struck down a state law limiting blocked crossings to 10 minutes, holding that such regulations were pre-empted by federal law.
Lake County lawyers rank judicial candidates
Lake Superior magistrate judges Kathleen Belzeski and Nanette Raduenz are being described by the local legal community as best qualified for the vacancy in Lake Superior Court, family law division.
Justices amend appellate, small claims rules
The Indiana Supreme Court has issued several orders amending rules of the court. Among them is a change that requires any appellate party to seek court permission to amend a filed appendix, and allows trusts and trustees to represent claims of less than $1,500 without counsel in small claims cases.
Lawyer sanctioned for failure to appear in teen’s homicide trial
An Indianapolis attorney must pay a $1,000 fine for failing to appear in federal court to defend a teen being tried as an adult in an alleged gang-related killing and an armed robbery of a Broad Ripple-area pharmacy.
With newfound aggressiveness, GOP ramps up Kavanaugh fight
Brett Kavanaugh says he won’t let “false accusations drive me out of this process” as he, President Donald Trump and top Republicans mount an aggressive drive to rally the public and GOP senators behind his shaky Supreme Court nomination.
Former Vigo County schools chief charged with bribery
A former western Indiana school chief faces three felony counts of bribery for allegedly accepting gifts from a vendor.
Supreme Court to hear OWI case based on observed speeding stop
The Indiana Supreme Court granted transfer to a case on Monday involving a defendant’s motion to suppress evidence from a traffic stop that led to his arrest.
Lawyer reprimanded for collecting unreasonable fee
A South Bend attorney was reprimanded by the Indiana Supreme Court on Friday after agreeing that she violated the Rules of Professional Conduct by collecting an unreasonable fee.
Sweeney takes oath of office as Southern District judge
Judge James R. Sweeney II of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana was sworn into office at 11 a.m. Monday as the Southern District’s newest judge since 2010.
Lawyer accused of forging judge’s name suspended again
A suspended Decatur lawyer who faces multiple disciplinary charges — including for accusations that she signed a judge’s name on a phony divorce order and sent emails posing as a deputy prosecutor — has again been suspended for failing to cooperate with investigations.
Man’s conviction upheld in 2 robberies of same Indiana bank
An appeals court has upheld the conviction of a man who was found guilty of robbing the same central Indiana bank twice about 15 months apart.
Portage mayor wants information blocked from federal trial
An indicted northwestern Indiana mayor is maintaining that prosecutors used a confidential informant to improperly know they had more time to investigate the case.
New sexual-misconduct accusation rocks Kavanaugh nomination
A second allegation of sexual misconduct has emerged against Judge Brett Kavanaugh, a development that has further imperiled his nomination to the Supreme Court, forced the White House and Senate Republicans onto the defensive and fueled calls from Democrats to postpone further action on his confirmation.
New Haven City Court judge faces discipline
A northern Indiana city court judge was charged with four counts of judicial misconduct Friday for improperly assuming the duties of a prosecutor and wrongly approving infraction deferrals for juveniles.
Termination of ex’s house payment obligation reversed
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a decision that found an “ambiguous” dissolution settlement agreement made no indication as to the father’s child support obligations and that his payments for a mortgage and car would supplement them.
Reversal voids sale of properties by unauthorized agent
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a decision granting summary judgment in favor of two companies who purchased real estate in a sale that was voided after the seller was found to have no authority to sell it.