Woman who posed as DCS worker killed mom, claimed baby
A Gary woman will spend decades in prison for killing a mother in her Anderson home in 2015 and trying to pass off the woman’s baby as her own.
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Indiana Transportation Museum sues Noblesville, Fishers, Hamilton County
The Indiana Transportation Museum has filed two lawsuits against Hamilton County government officials, including one that alleges Noblesville is planning to evict the museum from Forest Park by June 1 to seize the museum’s equipment.
Divided COA orders dismissal of theft, battery charges
Theft and battery charges against a Marion County man must be dismissed after a majority of an Indiana Court of Appeals panel determined he was not brought to trial within 70 days, per his speedy trial request.
Gary man pleads guilty, faces life term in 7 women’s deaths
A Gary man has avoided the death penalty by pleading guilty in the deaths of seven women and instead faces life in prison without parole. Darren Vann of Gary, Indiana, entered the guilty pleas during a surprise court hearing Friday in Crown Point. He will be sentenced May 25.
Confinement conviction reversed; robbery, burglary counts stand
Burglary and robbery convictions against a man convicted in a Marion County break-in will stand, but related criminal confinement convictions must be vacated because the confinement was “part and parcel” of the underlying robbery, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Friday.
Appeals court rejects inmate’s probation violation argument
A Marion County man must remain incarcerated in the Marion County Jail after the Indiana Court of Appeals rejected his argument that his probation revocation rights were violated.
7th Circuit grants review to Indiana immigrant’s torture case
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered the Board of Immigration Appeals to re-examine a Honduras native’s case against his forced removal to his home country, finding the board did not adequately consider the man’s evidence of the threat of gang violence against him if he were returned home.
Filings for bankruptcy continue to fall
Bankruptcy filings in federal courts continued their downward slide with more than 250,000 fewer cases filed for the year ending March 31, 2018, than were filed during the same period in 2014, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
Man who fled country gets 92 years for bank robbery, firing at police
A Muncie man who was tracked down in Colombia and convicted of robbing a bank and shooting at a responding police in 2012 has been sentenced to more than 92 years in prison.
Supreme Court: Sotomayor recovering after shoulder surgery
The U.S. Supreme Court says Justice Sonia Sotomayor is “resting comfortably” after shoulder replacement surgery.
Rosenstein: Justice Department won’t be ‘extorted’ by Congress
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on Tuesday lashed out at congressional Republican allies of President Donald Trump who have drafted articles of impeachment against him, saying the Justice Department won’t be extorted or give in to threats.
Federal court lets Indiana prisoners challenge DOC mail restrictions
Indiana Department of Correction inmates may challenge DOC directives that restrict their mail, a federal judge ruled, certifying a class action lawsuit against policies that called for the screening or seizure of greeting cards and other forms of mail.
Gymnast sues USA Gymnastics, others over sex abuse
A former member of the U.S. national team on Tuesday became the latest gymnast to sue over sexual abuse by imprisoned former sports doctor Larry Nassar, alleging USA Gymnastics, the U.S. Olympic Committee and the husband-and-wife duo who coached America’s top female gymnasts for three decades failed to protect her and other athletes.
Attorney General argues reference to ISIS was not prosecutorial misconduct
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is asking the Indiana Supreme Court to review a case involving two Middle Eastern immigrants and references to terrorism which raises both a question of prosecutorial misconduct and an issue of first impression.
Justices to consider absentee juvenile adjudication that split COA
The Indiana Supreme Court will hear an appeal of a juvenile case in which a missing delinquent teen received another delinquency adjudication and was found to be in violation of probation after a court hearing where he was not present.
Senior judges to serve as Noble County judges pro tem
Two senior judges will begin serving as Noble County judges pro tempore this month after the sitting circuit court judge announced he will be temporarily unavailable to perform his duties.
Justices to hear appeal of daughter disinherited from estate
The Indiana Supreme Court will hear an appeal from a Spencer County woman who claims she was disinherited by her stepmother from her father’s estate, from which her stepmom’s son later derived more than $3 million in mineral rights revenue from West Virginia properties he inherited.
Indiana Court decisions – April 12-25, 2018
Read Indiana appellate decisions from the most recent reporting period.
Landis, longtime head of Public Defender Council, to retire in July
Despite working on Indiana public defense reforms for 41 years, there are still goals Larry Landis wishes he could have accomplished before his impending retirement from the Indiana Public Defender Council. In a perfect world, Landis said his career would have led to more judicial sentencing discretion, a greater focus on mental health treatment, and a justice system that values restoration over punishment.
JNC completes first day of Court of Appeals interviews
The first of two days of interviews to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Indiana Court of Appeals is complete after the Indiana Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission spoke with three more applicants Monday afternoon.