Justices certify Bartholomew County magistrate as senior judge
The Indiana Supreme Court has certified a Bartholomew County judicial officer as a senior judge.
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Navajo man loses latest bid to delay federal execution
The only Native American on federal death row lost a bid Thursday to push back his execution date. Unless Lezmond Mitchell gets relief from another court or is granted clemency, he will be put to death Aug. 26 at the federal prison in Terre Haute where he is being held.
COA clarifies ‘expiration’ in driving suspension issue of first impression
In deciding an issue of first impression, the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a man’s conviction after ruling that his driver’s license suspension had already expired at the start of the day before he was pulled over a few hours later.
Hispanic Heritage Month speaker to address citizenship during annual celebration
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana and the Indiana State Bar Association Latino Affairs Committee will host a presentation focusing on historical and contemporary approaches to the dilemmas of citizenship during its fourth annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.
Split COA reverses state ruling against 3 teacher union contracts
A divided appellate panel Wednesday overturned the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board’s final decisions that three contracts negotiated and ratified by Indiana teachers unions and their respective school employers did not comply with state law.
Judgment for ISU affirmed in locker room voyeurism case
A former Indiana State University volleyball player who sued the university upon learning a campus locker room was being secretly filmed by a fellow student could not convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that granting ISU’s motion for summary judgment was a mistake.
COA reverses suppression of evidence from home search
An appellate panel has reversed a trial court’s order to suppress evidence found in his home during a community corrections compliance check, concluding that law enforcement did not need reasonable suspicion to search his residence.
Rape convictions affirmed but probation condition ruled unconstitutional
An appeals court Monday upheld an aggregate 24-year sentence for a man convicted of three counts of rape, but it also found a condition of probation that barred him from visiting “businesses that sell sexual devices or aids” was unconstitutionally broad.
COA: Good Samaritan Law shields trucker who stopped on foggy road to call 911
The Indiana Court of Appeals has partially reversed the denial of summary judgment to a truck driver involved in a car accident after finding both he and his employer are entitled to protection under the Good Samaritan Law. The case attracted an amicus brief from the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association.
COA affirms admission of child molesting victim’s forensic interview
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed a man’s child molesting conviction after finding that the admission of a forensic interview video played for the jury under Indiana Rule of Evidence 803(5) was not an abuse of discretion.
7th Circuit declines to reinstate exhibitor’s license for controversial Charlestown zoo owner
In a second legal defeat in one week, the owner of the controversial Charlestown zoo appearing in Netflix’s “Tiger King” series has lost his bid to reinstate his federal exhibitor’s license.
Reversing rulings for quadriplegic, 7th Circuit asks ‘how much’ court may order state to pay
A quadriplegic woman requiring nearly around-the-clock care was stripped of a federal court ruling permitting her to dictate the terms of her own home health care at the state’s expense. In so ruling, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals asked, “How much state expenditure outside the scope of the Medicaid program may a court command?”
7th Circuit reinstates Myers’ murder conviction in IU student Behrman’s death
The murder conviction against the man found guilty of killing Indiana University student Jill Behrman has been reinstated after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals determined that his counsel was deficient, but not prejudicial.
Web Exclusive: First impressions of the first COVID-era jury trial
“I knew that I was the first trial and that if I screwed up, nobody else would get to go, so I wanted these people to be comfortable,” Lake Superior Judge Bruce Parent said. Parent and others shared their perspectives on the first Indiana jury trial permitted after court proceedings were suspended due to the pandemic.
Studies show initial success in state pretrial release assessments
With the implementation of Criminal Rule 26 in January, courts across Indiana have been required to begin using evidence-based practices to make pretrial release decisions. But do those practices actually improve the criminal justice system?
Resumed federal executions further divide country
The deaths of Daniel Lewis Lee, Wesley Ira Purkey and Dustin Honken roused the anger of civil liberties lawyers, who say the executions were carried out in a rushed and even unlawful manner. The overarching question in public discussion has been “why” — why did Attorney General William Barr make the executions a priority? And why were they carried out while the country was dealing with a pandemic, racial unrest and a looming election?
Supreme Court affirms dismissal of firearm enhancement after COA reversed
Indiana Supreme Court justices vacated an appellate panel’s reversal on Tuesday, affirming the trial court’s dismissal of a firearm enhancement in a case involving a man who shot his roommate.
COA affirms sentence for man’s rape, battery convictions
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed a man’s decades-long sentence for his rape and battery convictions, finding nothing wrong with his sentence or the decision to admit certain statements from the victim.
Federal judge decries shooting that killed son, injured husband
In her first public comments since a lawyer known for his misogynistic screeds shot and killed her son and seriously injured her husband at their home, a federal judge in New Jersey called for more privacy and protections for people in her field in the face of mounting cyberthreats.
7th Circuit grants writ of mandamus after Southern District transfers case to California
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday granted an Indiana business’ petition for writ of mandamus, finding that the Southern Indiana District Court deviated substantially from the course of decision‐making mandated by the U.S. Supreme Court when it transferred the business’ action back to a California court.