Indiana city court burdened with large caseload
A northwestern Indiana city's municipal court is facing a caseload that far exceeds the combined number of pending cases for the rest of the city and town courts in its county.
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Groth’s attorney not surprised by Supreme Court’s denial of transfer
The Indiana Supreme Court’s decision to deny transfer to an open records case involving former Gov. Mike Pence did not come as a surprise to those involved in or who had followed the case closely.
Judge approves $227M in FedEx driver suit settlements
FedEx Corp. will pay more than $227 million to settle some of the long-running lawsuits brought by drivers in Indiana and 18 others states who claim they were undercompensated because the company classified them as independent contractors rather than full-time workers.
7th Circuit dismisses juvenile’s appeal for lack of jurisdiction
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has dismissed a juvenile’s appeal of an order that he submit to a psychological examination, finding that the court does not yet have jurisdiction to hear the case.
Magistrate Judge Baker appointed to federal board
United States Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has appointed Magistrate Judge Tim Baker of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana to the board of directors of the Federal Judicial Center, making him the only magistrate judge to hold a board position.
Justices affirm life sentences for Richmond Hill mastermind
The man convicted as the architect of a November 2012 home explosion that left two people dead and dozens of others injured will spend the rest of his life in prison after the Indiana Supreme Court affirmed his murder convictions and life without parole sentences on Tuesday.
Trucking company target of several lawsuits
At least 16 law firms, most of them based in New York City, have issued press releases in recent days saying they have filed lawsuits against an Indianapolis-based trucking company or are investigating doing so.
Supreme Court hears INDOT case during Rucker’s final oral arguments
In his last oral arguments on the bench of the Indiana Supreme Court, Justice Robert Rucker and three other justices considered the public standing doctrine and the concept of parens patriae as they weighed granting transfer to a case involving a dispute between a state agency and a local municipality.
Indiana woman pleads guilty in abuse death of daughter, 3
A southern Indiana woman has pleaded guilty in her 3-year-old daughter's abuse death and injuries suffered by the girl's older sibling.
Common Cause, NAACP sue over Marion County early voting
Marion County’s single location for early voting provides unequal access to the ballot, argues a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday by Common Cause and the NAACP. Plaintiffs in the case allege Indianapolis’ sole early voting precinct is discriminatory and constitutes voter suppression.
Pro bono reporting results draw mixed reaction
The first round of data collected from Indiana’s new pro bono reporting rule invoked opposing reactions among the members of the Coalition for Court Access who recently reviewed the numbers. Some thought the amount of time and money lawyers donated to legal aid was shameful, while others were thrilled with the level of giving.
Unique Indy merit-selection system replaces voided elections, faces likely challenges
Judges in Indianapolis won’t have to worry about running for election in the future, but they will face up-or-down retention votes under a bill signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb April 27. The system to replace the current one ruled unconstitutional was adopted by lawmakers despite warnings that the new system also is spoiling for a fight in court.
Holcomb to choose next Supreme Court justice from trio of trial court judges
The three people Gov. Eric Holcomb is considering as the next Indiana Supreme Court justice are a repeat-finalist former Gov. Mike Pence considered for the same position last year; a candidate who is a decade younger than the rest of the court; and a southern Indiana trial court judge elected to the bench as a Democrat.
Mediators seeing a rise in attorneys arriving unprepared
The rustling of papers and the sight of attorneys sifting through documents to find information has led Vanessa Lopez Aguilera to conclude attorneys increasingly are arriving unprepared for mediation.
Indiana appeals order blocking abortion ultrasound mandate
Indiana is appealing a federal ruling that blocks a state mandate forcing women to undergo an ultrasound at least 18 hours before having an abortion.
Indiana Supreme Court ends lawyer’s legal quest for Pence emails
The Indiana Supreme Court is denying a request from a lawyer who wanted his public records case against Vice President Mike Pence to be given a fresh look.
Appeals court won’t reconsider net neutrality ruling
A federal appeals court said Monday it won't reconsider its ruling to uphold the government's "net neutrality" rules that require internet providers to treat all online traffic equally.
Supreme Court says cities can sue banks under US housing law
The Supreme Court of the United States ruled Monday that cities may sue banks under the federal anti-discrimination in housing law, but said those lawsuits must tie claims about predatory lending practices among minority customers directly to declines in property taxes.
Kansas judges back off effort to keep jurors’ names secret
Indiana is one of several states where courts don’t have to release jurors’ names.