Indiana Court Decisions
Read opinions from Indiana’s appellate courts for the most recent reporting period.
Courts
Articles
Mali custody case alleges violations of human rights
A recent ruling by an Indiana appellate court in a transcontinental custody dispute is raising questions in the Hoosier legal community about the authority United States courts have to question the legal practices of other nations.
‘Short novel, big impact’ for adoption attorney
Through her life experiences and career as an adoption attorney, Natalie Chavis gained insight into the legal and emotional effects of the foster care and adoption processes, insight that led her to self-publish her first novel, “Adopting Tiger.” Her upcoming book signing and fundraiser coincides with National Adoption Day.
Pilot project aims to short-circuit the CHINS process
With the help of a nearly $1 million grant, Child Advocates, Inc., is partnering with Indianapolis Legal Aid Society in a pilot project designed to sweep youths from the child in need of services process and get them into stable homes.
Robbery convictions upheld despite failure to swear potential jurors
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a man’s robbery-related convictions despite the district court’s initial failure to administer an oath of truthfulness to potential jurors, finding such an oath is not explicitly required.
Indianapolis judge being considered for drug czar
Marion Superior Judge William Nelson, whose stepson died of a drug overdose, confirmed Monday he is under consideration to be the nation’s drug czar.
Trump choosing white men as judges, highest rate in decades
President Donald Trump is nominating white men to America’s federal courts at a rate not seen in nearly 30 years, threatening to reverse a slow transformation toward a judiciary that reflects the nation’s diversity.
3 more counties moving to mandatory e-filing this month
Three more Indiana counties will move to mandatory electronic filing this month as the push for statewide e-filing continues.
COA to hear oral argument at DTCI annual meeting
Attorneys who attend this year’s annual meeting of the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana will have the opportunity to sit in on oral arguments before the Indiana Court of Appeals when the court travels to French Lick for arguments this week.
National fund starting to help bail defendants out of jail
A national effort is launching that aims to help low-income defendants get out of jail by bailing them out as their criminal cases progress through the courts.
District court won’t enter judgment against Cuban government in sexual assault case
A district court judge has declined to enter default judgment against the Republic of Cuba on an Indiana woman’s claim against the foreign nation after finding members of the Cuban National Soccer Team were not acting within the scope of their employment for the country when they sexually assaulted her.
Topless woman’s complaint splits 7th Circuit
A Chicago woman’s decision to celebrate “Go Topless Day” by baring her breasts has cleaved the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals over whether she can now cloak herself in the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of speech.
Transgender inmate sues DOC for hormone therapy
A transgender inmate is suing the Indiana Department of Correction and is seeking a preliminary injunction that would require the department to provide hormone therapy to treat gender dysphoria.
Justices to consider whether failure to file negligence case warrants malpractice claim
The fate of a legal malpractice claim against a northern Indiana law firm is now in the hands of the justices of the Indiana Supreme Court, who must decide whether an underlying slip-and-fall case would have been more favorable to the plaintiff if the firm in question had not failed to file crucial documents.
Judge sides with Purdue in blocking Boilermakers Beer
A Florida businessman says he’ll appeal a judge’s order sought by Purdue University that blocks him from trying to sell Boilermakers Beer.
Indiana post office bombing defendant indicted on 5 counts
A grand jury indicted a northwestern Indiana man on five charges stemming from a pipe bomb explosion at a post office, U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II announced Thursday.
Indiana woman gets 40 years in malnourished baby’s death
A western Indiana woman has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for the neglect death of her malnourished 8-month-old daughter, who weighed just 11 pounds when she died.
Indianapolis judge bars immigration detentions
A federal judge has barred the Marion County Sheriff’s Office from detaining people in Indianapolis based solely on requests by immigration officials.
Sen. Rand Paul’s neighbor pleads not guilty in attack
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul's longtime neighbor pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges that he assaulted the Kentucky Republican while he was mowing his lawn at his home in Bowling Green.
2 charged with felony murder in Batesville OD death
A southeastern Indiana prosecutor has charged two people with felony murder in connection with an overdose death in Batesville.