Indiana sheriff agrees to plea deal right before trial
A northern Indiana sheriff accused of giving special privileges to a jail inmate in exchange for $40,000 has agreed to plead guilty to an intimidation charge in a deal with prosecutors.
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7th Circuit: Title VII interpretation follows precedent
The employment discrimination complaint that began as a pro se filing by an Indiana math teacher has led the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to become the first federal appellate court to find the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides protection for LGBT workers.
Discipline charges filed against suspended Dunkirk judge
Formal disciplinary charges have been filed against suspended Dunkirk City Court Judge Tommy Dale Phillips II, who was recently sentenced to a year of probation after pleading guilty to felony battery on a law enforcement officer.
Fishers fitness firm sanctioned for violating injunction
A Fishers fitness business must pay a $1,000 penalty for violating a court order in a franchise dispute.
Court lets IPL rate increases stand
An approved rate change for Indianapolis Power & Light customers will stand after the Indiana Court of Appeals rejected the appeal of various advocacy groups on Wednesday.
Marion County judicial-selection bill headed for conference committee
A bill that would establish a merit-based judicial selection system for Marion Superior judges is entering its final phases of negotiation after it cleared the Indiana Senate on Tuesday.
Taft wins defamation lawsuit in appellate court
An Illinois appellate court has affirmed the law firm of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP did not defame a private business in a newsletter emailed to clients.
Gorsuch plagiarism allegations involve Indiana source
Reports that Neil Gorsuch may have plagiarized legal writings, including one from an Indiana lawyer, broke late Tuesday, adding to the Washington drama over President Donald Trump’s nominee to the United States Supreme Court.
Johnson County judge temporarily transferred
The Johnson Circuit Court judge will be temporarily transferred to the county’s Superior Court later this month when Superior Judge Cynthia S. Emkes retires.
Northern Indiana sheriff pleads guilty to intimidation
A northern Indiana sheriff pleaded guilty to an intimidation charge as his trial on bribery and other counts was about to begin.
7th Circuit rules Title VII covers sexual orientation
In a landmark ruling, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has found Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Political group takes ‘robocall’ law challenge to SCOTUS
A political advocacy group that wants to strike down Indiana’s ban on robocalls has asked the Supreme Court of the United States to overturn the state law it calls the most restrictive in the nation.
Supreme Court announces schedule for 2nd round of vacancy interviews
The Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission will move to the next step in the process of selecting three finalists to fill an impending vacancy on the Indiana Supreme Court during its second round of semifinalists interviews later this month.
Trump defends Obama’s for-profit college crackdown
For-profit colleges were supposed to thrive under a Trump administration staffed by officials known to be friendly to the industry. A legal filing from last week suggests perhaps those assumptions were premature.
Judge awards $850,000 to 8 fired Anderson city workers
A federal judge has ruled the city of Anderson must pay about $850,000 to eight people who were fired when a new mayor took office in 2012.
COA affirms neglect conviction against man with intellectual disability
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the felony neglect conviction of a Wayne County man with a mild intellectual disability, finding that the state presented sufficient evidence to prove that he knowingly neglected his child leading to the boy’s death, and that the testimony of two medical experts was proper.
Disciplinary Actions – 4/5/17
Read who’s been suspended or publicly reprimanded by the Indiana Supreme Court.
Disbarred Merrillville lawyer to face second mail fraud trial
The federal government will try again next month to convince a jury that disbarred Merrillville attorney Robert Stochel should be found guilty of mail fraud for allegedly embezzling more than $330,000 from a receivership he administered.
Fewer offenders paying user fees
A money crunch hits probation and community corrections departments around Indiana as a result of less offenders paying fees.
Semifinalists set for second round of Supreme Court interviews
From a pool of 20 candidates to fill the upcoming vacancy on the Indiana Supreme Court after Justice Robert Rucker retires, a little over half remain after the first round of interviews with members of the Judicial Nominating Commission last month.