‘It all starts with the family’
With a pending move to a new courthouse, Marion County Courts are launching a new family division that aims to follow a one family, one judge model.
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Indiana commercial courts branching out
Indiana’s commercial court docket is expanding for the first time, with four new venues opening in 2021. Hamilton, Madison, St. Joseph and Vigo counties will join Allen, Elkhart, Floyd, Lake, Marion and Vanderburgh counties in offering the specialized business dockets.
Community Justice Campus nears completion
Marion County’s ambitious plan to put the various pieces of the local justice system onto a single campus is on schedule to be completed at the end of 2021. The Indianapolis-Marion County Community Justice Center, located just southeast of downtown in the Twin Aire neighborhood, will be home to the county jail, the sheriff’s office and the county courthouse. Earlier this year, the Assessment and Intervention Center opened and is treating individuals with mental health and addiction issues.
COA upholds gang-related sentence enhancement
An Evansville man whose sentence was enhanced for gang-related activity could not convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that he was prosecuted twice for the same offense in violation of the Indiana Constitution.
Appeals panel splits on division of $1M retirement accounts in prenup dispute
A dispute over the terms of a prenuptial agreement has resulted in the division of part of a man’s nearly $1 million retirement accounts with his ex-wife. A dissenting judge, however, would not award the wife any portion of the retirement funds.
Statehouse rotunda appellate filing drop box available again
The Indiana Statehouse rotunda filing drop box is once again accessible for appellate case filings as public access to the Statehouse has been reinstated, the Indiana Supreme Court and Indiana Court of Appeals have announced. As such, appropriate in-person filing at the clerk’s office is once again permitted.
Supreme Court certifies, recertifies senior judges
The Indiana Supreme Court has certified two additional judicial officers as senior judges for 2021.
High court rules challenge to Trump census plan is premature
A divided Supreme Court has dismissed as premature a challenge to President Donald Trump’s plan to exclude people living in the country illegally from the population count used to allot states seats in the House of Representatives.
Trump wants Supreme Court to overturn Pa. election results
Undeterred by dismissals and admonitions from judges, President Donald Trump’s campaign continued with its efforts to overturn the results of the Nov 3. election Sunday, saying it had filed a new petition with the Supreme Court.
7th Circuit reverses judgment against postal worker over juror coercion concerns
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed guilty verdicts against a former Merrillville postal worker convicted in a robbery scheme, finding that a holdout juror at the woman’s trial was subjected to “impermissible coercion.”
Indiana restaurant sues governor, state over mask mandate
An Indiana restaurant that was shut down over the state’s mask mandate aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus is taking the issue to court, saying it was improperly closed for violating masking requirements and capacity limits.
Appeals court reverses for patient in med-mal case
A woman suing her doctor for medical malpractice won a reversal in her favor Friday after the Indiana Court of Appeals found she provided sufficient evidence regarding the applicable standard of care.
Justices reverse, remand for new trial in theft case
Indiana Supreme Court justices on Friday reversed a $350,000 verdict and attorney fee award for a Monroe County woman, remanding the case for a new trial on her theft claims.
In 1st impression case, COA says officers must explain training to get warrants based on drug odors
The Indiana Court of Appeals has reversed the denial of a motion to suppress drug-related evidence found during a search of a Greene County man’s home. The appellate court ruled on an issue of first impression that probable cause for a search warrant cannot be based only on an officer’s detection of the smell of marijuana without additional information about the officer’s training.
February bar to be remote, last to include Indiana essay questions
Indiana will again be administering its bar exam remotely in February but, unlike the test given during the summer, this time the exam will be two-days and applicants will not be allowed to consult any outside materials.
Indiana teen convicted of murder committed when he was 13
A teenager who was 13 when accused of killing an 18-year-old in northern Indiana has been convicted of murder.
US inmate scheduled to be executed tests positive for virus
A federal prisoner scheduled to be executed just days before President-elect Joe Biden takes office has tested positive for coronavirus, his lawyer said Thursday.
Longtime Marion County jurist Shook takes senior status
The Indiana Supreme Court on Monday certified retiring Marion Superior Court Magistrate Judge Deborah Jean Shook as a senior judge for 2021, beginning Jan. 1.
COA affirms commitment for woman with anorexia
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed the commitment of a woman diagnosed with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, finding sufficient evidence that she was both mentally ill and gravely disabled.
Feds seek 15-month prison term for former Whiting mayor
Federal prosecutors are recommending a 15-month prison sentence for the former mayor of Whiting, who pleaded guilty to fraud and a tax crime.