Holcomb appoints judges in Jackson, Porter and Vermillion counties
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb appointed an elected prosecutor and two deputy prosecutors to fill Indiana trial court vacancies in three Indiana counties, his office announced Friday.
Courts
Articles
7th Circuit upholds LWOP sentence for convicted murderer
An Indiana man convicted of murdering his ex-wife with a crowbar will continue to serve his life without parole sentence after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals denied the habeas relief he sought on the basis of ineffective assistance of trial counsel.
Trump: If FBI spied on my campaign, ‘bigger than Watergate’
President Donald Trump lent credence Thursday to reports that FBI informants had infiltrated his presidential campaign, saying that “if so, this is bigger than Watergate!” Trump’s comments came on the one-year anniversary of Robert Mueller’s appointment as special counsel to head the Justice Department probe into possible coordination between Russia and Trump campaign officials, an investigation Trump repeatedly has called a “witch hunt.”
Man gets work release for estranged wife’s abduction
An Indiana man has been sentenced to work release for abducting his estranged wife at gunpoint from her workplace. Kyle Mulkins, 22, had pleaded guilty in April to a felony charge of criminal confinement in the August 2017 abduction.
Judge sets hearing on request to block Indiana abortion law
A federal judge has set a June hearing in Evansville on Planned Parenthood’s bid to block a new Indiana law that requires medical providers who treat women for complications arising from abortions to report detailed patient information to the state.
Grandmother can’t bring child wrongful death suit, COA rules
A woman who claimed to be her grandson’s de facto custodian failed to convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that she had standing to bring a suit on the child’s behalf after he and his mother perished in an apartment fire.
Man’s contempt order for bail violation reversed on appeal
A northern Indiana trial court’s contempt order against a man who violated a condition of bail was an abuse of discretion, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday, reversing the order.
Insurer loses appeal in home-health worker crash case
An insurance dispute over who should pay for a bicyclist’s injuries sustained after he was struck by a vehicle driven by a home health aide will continue after an appeals court ruling that left the question open for now.
Man gets 90 years for setting fire to covered bridges
A Rockville man has been sentenced to 90 years in prison after being convicted of setting fires that destroyed a covered bridge and damaged another.
Judge: Special counsel had authority to prosecute Manafort
Special counsel Robert Mueller was working within his authority when he brought charges against President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, a federal judge in Washington ruled Tuesday.
Lawyer must face malpractice claim in ex-ballplayer’s unrepaid loan
An Indianapolis attorney must face a legal malpractice claim from a couple who allege the lawyer failed to adequately protect them and had a conflict of interest when he drafted a promissory note for a loan to a retired Major League Baseball player, who never repaid.
Lawyer hit with $150K infringement judgment says he wasn’t served notice
An Indianapolis attorney ordered to pay more than $150,000 in copyright infringement damages to another lawyer for using his Indianapolis skyline photo without permission claims in court that he never received notice of the suit against him.
Supreme Court greenlights driver rights in rental car case
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that people who borrow rental cars from friends or family are generally entitled to the same protections against police searches as the authorized driver.
Indiana Court Decisions – April 26-May 9, 2018
Read Indiana appellate decisions from the most recent reporting period.
Ball State prof tackles controversial SCOTUS libel decision in new book
It all began in September 1962, when Atlanta insurance salesman George Burnett was accidentally connected to a phone call between University of Georgia athletic director James Wallace “Wally” Butts, Jr. and legendary University of Alabama coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. Burnett's record of the call led to a controversial U.S. Supreme Court libel decision that is the basis of a new book by Ball State University professor emeritus David Sumner.
Supreme Court rules for inmate whose lawyer conceded guilt
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that a lawyer for a criminal defendant cannot override his client’s wish to maintain his innocence at trial, even if the lawyer’s aim is to avoid a death sentence.
Justices to hear argument in blocked railroad crossings case
The question of whether state or federal law determines how long trains can block traffic at railroad crossings will come before the Indiana Supreme Court during oral argument this week. These case is one of three that justices will hear Thursday.
COA finds warehouse not liable for cargo-related deaths
An Indianapolis-based warehouse facility has been cleared of liability in a tractor-trailer accident that killed three and injured one after the Indiana Court of Appeals found the warehouse had neither a contractual nor a common law duty to the victims.
Supreme Court makes legal sports betting a possibility
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal law Monday that bars gambling on football, basketball, baseball and other sports in most states, giving states the go-ahead to legalize betting on sports. Indiana was among the states pushing for the decision.
Hamilton County halts government and judicial center expansion
Hamilton County leaders are delaying a roughly $24 million project to expand the government and judicial center in Noblesville after bids came in about $300,000 over budget.