ACLU suing Knightstown over illuminated cross display
The American Civil Liberties Union is suing a central Indiana town over the display of a cross as part of its Christmas decorations.
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Indianapolis mayor to unveil new jail, criminal justice changes
Indianapolis’ mayor is proposing construction of a new jail and changes to the local criminal justice system to place a greater emphasis on assessing inmates for mental illness and substance abuse problems.
COA: Felon’s right to bear arms was not reinstated
A trial court judge’s statement that he was not going to prevent a convicted felon from possessing a firearm at his post-conviction hearing is not the equivalent of the reinstatement of the man’s right to bear arms, the Indiana Court of Appeals found Friday.
Washington state suing agrochemical giant over PCB pollution
Washington has become the first U.S. state to sue the agrochemical giant Monsanto over pervasive pollution from PCBs, the toxic industrial chemicals that have accumulated in plants, fish and people around the globe for decades. The company said the case "lacks merit."
Women sue groom, event company after being hit by drone
Two women are suing a groom and the event company that ran his wedding reception after they allege he flew a drone that hit them in the head at the New Hampshire event.
Dylann Roof laughed during church slaying confession to FBI
Dylann Roof hesitated for about 20 seconds when an FBI agent asked him what he was doing on the night nine black church members were killed during Bible study in a historic congregation in Charleston, South Carolina.
Indiana man charged with killing father claims self-defense
A northeast Indiana man charged with killing his father alleges he fired the fatal shots because he feared for his life.
COA affirms mom’s convictions targeting stepmom
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed a mother’s intimidation convictions Friday, writing that her children’s stepmother had lawful custody of the children, so the mother’s threats against the woman constituted intimidation based on a prior lawful act.
COA reaffirms decision imposing sanctions on mental health service provider
The Indiana Court of Appeals has reaffirmed an earlier decision finding that sanctions against a mental health provider were warranted, making clear Friday that it fully understood why the sanctions were imposed.
Hearing set for Chicago man denied pardon by Pence
A Chicago man denied a pardon by Gov. Mike Pence for a robbery he said he did not commit will get a hearing in March for his request for a new trial.
7th Circuit affirms dismissal of claims against Indiana, Marion County officials
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the dismissal of claims against several Indiana state and county officials, finding that most of the claims failed due to the immunity provided to government employees in the scope of their employment.
Michael Jordan wins China trademark court ruling after yearslong case
Basketball legend Michael Jordan now owns his Chinese name, after China's highest court sided with him Thursday following a yearslong legal battle over a trademark dispute.
Justices weigh cellphone data privacy rights in 4th Amendment case
When people turn on their cellphones, they have a general understanding that some data regarding their whereabouts will be collected. But if a person does not know the extent to which that data is collected, then can the court say that such data was voluntarily released by the person, or is there an expected right to privacy?
4 Indiana cities seek dismissal of LGBT protections suit
Four Indiana cities have asked the Indiana Court of Appeals to overrule a judge’s ruling allowing conservative groups to go ahead with a lawsuit challenging anti-discrimination ordinances.
COA: Law enforcement may not refuse to hire based solely on expunged criminal histories
The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that law enforcement agencies are not permitted under state statute to refuse to hire new employees solely because those people have prior criminal histories that have since been expunged.
2 face life sentences in Newton County slayings
Prosecutors intend to seek sentences of life without parole for two 24-year-old men facing murder, theft and other charges in the slayings of three people in northwestern Indiana.
Court abused discretion in letting public defender withdraw appearance
An attorney seeking a motion to withdraw appearance had to prove there was justification for his withdrawal and provide sufficient notice to the party he represented before the motion could be granted, the Indiana Court of Appeals found Thursday.
Forest Alliance sues to stop Crown Hill cemetery project
The controversy over the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ plans to develop a military cemetery with a series of above-ground columbariums on 15 wooded acres north of Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis has ended up in court.
COA holds public trust rights rule along lakeshore
When a private property owner’s land deed overlaps with that of the public trust along Lake Michigan, the rights to the shore are controlled by the common law public trust doctrine, the Indiana Court of Appeals found Wednesday in a landmark decision that prevents private property owners from exerting complete control over lakeshore land between ordinary high- and low-water marks.
COA holds that volunteer work was incidental to man’s employment
A general contractor’s volunteer work was incidental to his professional employment, so the injuries he sustained during the volunteer work must be covered under the Indiana Worker’s Compensation Act.