Justices author dissents in appeal denials
The Indiana Supreme Court won’t hear two cases in which justices felt compelled to write dissents arguing why they believed toxic-litigation and marital estate distribution appeals should be heard.
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Justices to determine if ‘Spice law’ void for vagueness
The Indiana Supreme Court will determine whether Indiana’s “Spice law” banning synthetic drugs as new formulations appear is void for vagueness, as separate divided panels of the Court of Appeals ruled in January.
Justice center developer trying to meet with council members
The company that wants to develop a criminal justice center has invited the entire Indianapolis City-County Council to a meeting Tuesday afternoon to discuss lingering concerns about the $1.6 billion project, which died in committee last month.
Waterfill: State court vs. federal court: Which venue is best?
What are the various considerations when determining between state and federal court?
Column: Using Facebook to provide notice for service of process
A recent study found that nearly 75 percent of all adults in the U.S. who use the Internet also have Facebook accounts. What if Facebook could soon have a major (positive) impact on litigation?
Ruling clarifies, broadens admissibility of social media content as evidence
Donnell Wilson’s murder convictions for shooting and killing two gang members in Gary relied in part on Twitter posts shown to a jury in which he bragged about having a gun and threatened to shoot rival gang members.
Pressure on PACER
On May 1, protestors across the country launched their ire on the federal judicial branch. They were not maligning the judges or their decisions, but rather they were imploring the courts to upgrade and improve the online Public Access to Court Electronic Records system.
Supreme Court voids Maryland tax similar to Indiana tax
The Supreme Court of the United States on Monday struck down a Maryland tax that has the effect of double-taxing income residents earned in other states.
Police immune from lawsuit over arrest of mentally ill woman
The Supreme Court of the United States ruled Monday that police are immune from a lawsuit arising from the arrest and shooting of a mentally ill woman in San Francisco.
Property owners have no duty for tenant’s free-running dog
Although the landlords provided the means to restrain the tenant’s dog, they are not responsible for the injuries a motorcyclist sustained when the pooch dashed into the road and caused an accident.
Justices make it easier to sue over 401(k) plans
The Supreme Court of the United States ruled unanimously Monday in favor of participants in employee retirement plans who object to companies’ investment decisions that eat into retirement savings.
SCOTUS: Convicted felons can sell their guns
A unanimous Supreme Court of the United States ruled Monday that the government can’t prevent a convicted felon who is barred from possessing firearms from trying to sell his guns after they are confiscated by authorities.
6 selected for ICLEO internships
Six law school students have been chosen to participate in the 2015 Carr L. Darden Conference for Legal Education Opportunity internship program.
Court of Appeals interviews to be held June 10
Eight judges and lawyers vying for appointment to the Indiana Court of Appeals will be interviewed June 10 by the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission. The commission will recommend three finalists to Gov. Mike Pence, who will select the person to succeed Judge Ezra Friedlander, who is retiring at the end of August.
Boston Marathon bomber sentenced to death
A jury sentenced Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to death Friday for the Boston Marathon bombing, sweeping aside pleas that he was just a "kid" who fell under the influence of his fanatical older brother.
Southern District New Albany magistrate takes oath
New Albany attorney Van T. Willis, a senior partner with Kightlinger & Gray LLP, was sworn in Friday as a new part-time magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana by Chief Judge Richard L. Young.
Admission of recording is harmless error
A recording of a victim’s conversation with friends should not have been admitted into evidence at trial, but the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled it was a harmless error.
Tax Court affirms Zionsville office assessment
The Indiana Tax Court on Thursday affirmed the real estate assessment of an office building on Zionsville’s Main Street in Boone County.
COA: Rapper’s brokered peace treaty irrelevant in murder case
A rapper convicted as an accomplice in the murder of Indianapolis disc jockey Thomas Keys failed on appeal to show his brokering of a peace treaty between rival rap groups was wrongly excluded from evidence in his trial.