Judicial Nominating Commission certifies senior judges for next year
The Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission has certified three new senior judges for the next year.
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Illinois judges to hear cases in Southern Indiana District
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is getting more help from within the circuit. Chief Judge James Shadid of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois and Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois will sit by designation and assist with the caseload of the Southern District of Indiana.
Asbestos removal requires Anderson courthouse to close
Officials decided to close the Madison County Government Center for about seven months beginning at the end of November. Courts will take up temporary residency for several months about six miles away from downtown Anderson.
Law restores will challenges as separate actions
An unintended change in law that temporarily required will challenges to be filed within the probate case was reversed under a bill that took effect July 1 and tweaked several provisions of Indiana’s Probate Code.
New case, same battle over partisan gerrymandering
The Wisconsin gerrymandering case now before the Supreme Court of the United States has all the intrigue of a first-class thriller — secrecy, sophisticated computer programs, outside consultants, and carefully drawn district lines to ensure a firm grip on power. It also has echoes of a similar Indiana case from 30 years ago.
Probate bar proposes legislation to permit electronic signatures on wills
In an increasingly digital world, the legal ritual of a person signing a last will and testament before two witnesses who attest to the signer’s capacity may be evolving. Lawmakers next year will consider a proposal to allow electronic signatures on wills and other trust and estate documents.
Theater company stages ‘The Originalist’ to get people talking
As a Shakespearian actor, Henry Woronicz has a unique understanding of the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s originalist judicial philosophy. He connects with him through the meaning of texts — much as actors do when preparing for their roles.
Federal judge to rule later on latest Trump travel ban
A federal judge in Baltimore, Maryland, will rule later on three lawsuits requesting preliminary injunctions to block the most recent Trump administration travel restrictions.
Attorney who harassed client to dismiss complaint suspended
A northern Indiana attorney who made false statements to a trial court then harassed his client in an attempt to get her to dismiss a disciplinary complaint against him has been suspended from the practice of law in Indiana for at least one year.
City attorney who falsified email suspended for 180 days
An Indianapolis city attorney who gave inaccurate information to a news reporter then tried to destroy evidence of his misconduct has been suspended from the practice of law in Indiana for 180 days.
Justices to decide marijuana grow probable cause case
The Indiana Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether police officers had probable cause to obtain a search warrant for a home they believed to be the location of an indoor marijuana growing operation after granting transfer to the case last week.
McKinney remembered at memorial
Family and friends gathered Thursday in the courtroom of late the Senior Judge Larry McKinney at the Birch Bayh Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Indianapolis for a memorial to share stories and celebrate his life.
Murder conviction affirmed after judge recusal appeal
A man who murdered a friend and shot and wounded another lost his appeal that argued the jurist who rejected his guilty plea then presided over his murder trial wrongly denied a motion for a new judge.
Holcomb fills vacancy in Wabash Superior Court
A chaplain at White’s Residential and Family Services has been appointed to succeed Indiana Justice Christopher Goff as judge of the Wabash Superior Court.
COA: Purported grandfather couldn’t bring paternity action
An Indiana trial court erred in ordering parties in a paternity dispute to abide by the terms of a mediation agreement because the man who initially brought the paternity action did not have standing to do so, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled.
‘Quasi-emancipation’ presents matter of first impression for COA
Although the Indiana Court of Appeals sympathized with a trial court’s effort to reduce the stress on two brothers caused by their feuding divorced parents, the appellate panel still found the lower court overstepped its authority.
COA: Judge belittled, disparaged tenant in $38 rent spat
A small-claims judge who failed to swear in litigants in a small-change rent lawsuit drew a rebuke and a reversal from the Court of Appeals Friday, who found she not only improperly shifted the burden of proof to the plaintiff, but also belittled and disparaged her.
Despite concerns, appeals court upholds finding claims against stepbrother barred
Though the Indiana Court of Appeals had “significant concerns” about the transfer of trust assets in a dispute between stepsiblings, the appellate panel affirmed the trial court’s decision in favor of the stepbrother after finding his stepsister’s claims were barred by the statute of limitations.
Statute of limitations squashes lawsuit against Vanderburgh County officials
A motorcyclist who sought damages for injuries he sustained while being detained in the Vanderburgh County Jail lost his appeal of his lawsuit, which the trial court tossed for not giving notice of the lawsuit before the statute of limitations expired.
COA rejects commercial court challenge, rules against worker
While an Indiana commercial court failed to provide sufficient notice to a worker who was being sued by his former employer that sought to enforce a noncompete agreement, the Indiana Court of Appeals found the worker had waived his argument and affirmed a resulting injunction barring him from a new job at a competing company.