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Bar exam blues continue as July rate holds steady
Chief Justice Loretta Rush said she was worried and concerned about slumping bar exam scores. She echoed the apprehension of many about the quality of students being admitted to law schools and she noted the format of the test itself may be impacting the results.
Public defenders decry growing caseloads
As the number of children in need of services cases continues to rise, public defenders across Indiana are stretching themselves to be able to offer competent representation while also serving as many clients as possible. Defenders are likewise feeling a strain on their misdemeanor caseloads.
New limits proposed for civil forfeiture
After a federal judge ruled part of Indiana’s civil forfeiture framework unconstitutional, state lawmakers are now reviewing proposed legislation to bring that framework in compliance with federal mandates and prosecutors’ suggestions.
Study: Mediation favored; style fitting litigants’ status may be better
A novel Indiana study finds judges, lawyers and mediators broadly agree that mediation is likelier than trial proceedings to provide fair and satisfactory results for couples in family law cases. Researchers also suggest that mediators may be able to further improve outcomes by tailoring their styles to fit litigants’ circumstances.
McKinney remembered as humorous, hardworking
Senior Judge Larry McKinney of the District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is remembered as a brilliant, dedicated jurist who could also keep things light with his quick wit. McKinney died Sept. 20 at age 73.
Southern District of Indiana shoulders heavy caseload, hopes for new judge
A workhorse court within the 7th Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana has long been designated as a judicial emergency. It’s now having to cope with the caseload made heavier by the recent deaths of two colleagues.
Justices order dissemination charge reinstated, overrule COA precedent
A 38-year-old man who sent an explicit photo to a 16-year-old girl must face a felony charge after the Indiana Supreme Court ruled that it is illegal for adults to send sexually explicit photos to any person under the age of 18. The high court also overruled a 2009 Court of Appeals decision that had reached the opposite conclusion.
Indiana Supreme Court to hear death penalty arguments this week
The justices of the Indiana Supreme Court will consider the fate of the state’s death penalty protocol when it hears arguments this week in a case challenging the legality of how the protocol was enacted.
Indiana couple pleads guilty to stealing $1.2M from Amazon
An eastern Indiana couple has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $1.2 million in merchandise from online retail company Amazon.
Northern District of Indiana senior judge to help the Southern District
Coping under a judicial emergency that has been exacerbated by a sudden death of a Senior Judge Larry McKinney, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is getting much needed help from its northern Hoosier neighbor.
Tax Court rules against CVS in dispute over Monroe County store valuation
The most recent in a long line of tax disputes between the Monroe County assessor and CVS Corp. has ended with two rulings against CVS after the Indiana Tax Court affirmed assessed valuations of Monroe County CVS stores.
Juvenile court must reconsider modification petition for teen without counsel
A Kosciusko County teen who was made a ward of the Department of Correction will get another day in court after the Indiana Court of Appeals determined the teen did not waive his right to counsel at the hearing where he was made a ward.
COA affirms termination of parental rights, declines request to interpret phrase in statute
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed the termination of a father’s parental rights, even though the fact-finding hearing was held outside the statutory time frame. The judges also declined to interpret whether the applicable statute contains directory or mandatory language.
First Monday in October: New Supreme Court term begins
The Supreme Court is starting its new year, with Justice Neil Gorsuch on board for his first full term.
Autopsy: Man who fled police fatally shot by trooper
Authorities say an autopsy determined that a man wanted by police after fleeing from a traffic stop in Columbus was fatally shot by a state trooper in southern Indiana.
Sentence affirmed for man who killed exchange students in drunk driving crash
A man convicted of killing three foreign exchange students in a violent car crash while driving drunk won't have his 38 ½-year sentence after the Indiana Court of Appeals determined he failed to prove his sentence was inappropriate.
Judges affirm intimidation conviction against man who threatened neighbor
The state presented sufficient evidence to prove a Cass County man intimidated his neighbor by engaging in a true threat against his neighbor and intending to place his neighbor in fear of retaliation, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled.
COA reverses CHINS finding for lack of evidence
An Allen County child will no longer be considered in need of services after the Indiana Court of Appeals determined Friday the Department of Child Services failed to provide sufficient evidence to support a CHINS finding.
COA reverses order making ex-spouses co-owners of college savings account
An Indiana trial court erred when it ordered two divorced parents to become co-owners of the ex-husband’s 529 savings account in post-dissolution proceedings, finding the account was the man’s property, so the trial court lacked authority to make his ex-wife a co-owner.