Court skeptical of challenge to Obama’s climate change plan
Two out of three judges on a federal appeals court panel are expressing doubts about a legal challenge to the Obama administration's far-reaching plan to address climate change.
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Court must consider man’s self-defense claim at new bail hearing
A defendant accused of murder must be allowed to present evidence and witnesses at a bail hearing in an endeavor to rebut the state’s burden that the defendant likely committed murder, the Indiana Court of Appeals held Thursday. Since that did not happen in James Satterfield’s case, the judges remanded the matter for further proceedings.
Judges order home invasion sentence lowered
Noting that a defendant who broke in to an elderly couple’s home and beat the husband would have received a lesser sentence if he had actually killed the victim, the Indiana Court of Appeals ordered Jeffrey Hunt’s 120-year sentence revised.
Courts will have a central role in interpreting Indiana’s amended RFRA
Even before Gov. Mike Pence signed Senate Enrolled Act 101, even before the firestorm of protests started and the nation turned its attention to Indiana, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act appeared to be on its way to court.
Judging how Indy elects judges
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals posed tough questions for the state’s defense of the pay-to-play, power-sharing system of judicial slating in Marion County.
Reversal: Bank’s refiled foreclosure ‘disingenuous,’ ‘improper’
A bank won summary judgment in a refiled mortgage foreclosure suit against a bankrupt couple after its first complaint was dismissed, but the Indiana Court of Appeals slapped down the trial court ruling Monday and dismissed the case.
Court: NYC woman can serve divorce papers via Facebook
Social media continues to make headway into the legal system. A judge has given a New York City woman permission to file for divorce from her elusive husband via a Facebook message.
Nineteen counties split nearly $243K in family court grants
Family courts around Indiana will receive $242,911 in grant money to support projects, the Indiana Supreme Court announced Monday. A total of 19 counties will each receive grants of $4,000 to $35,000.
Man gets life sentence for Waynesville quadruple murder
A southern Indiana man found guilty in the deaths of a couple and two of their friends has been sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole.
7th Circuit grills state over Indy judge election system
As Indiana endured the harsh national glare from the Religious Freedom Restoration Act controversy this week, Indianapolis’ pay-to-play, power-sharing system for electing Marion Superior Court judges was on trial in Chicago.
Man’s trial in deadly blast unlikely until mid-2016
Prosecutors say the trial for a man who's one of four suspects in a deadly Indianapolis house explosion will likely be delayed until at least mid-2016.
Advocate says Indiana woman’s sentence for feticide alarming
An Indiana woman received a 20-year sentence in the death of her premature infant, a punishment the head of a national advocacy group called cruel and a misuse of the state's feticide law.
Tax Court affirms ruling in favor of KinderCare on educational exemption
The Indiana Board of Tax Review did not err when it determined property on which a KinderCare Learning Center sits qualified for an educational purposes exemption for the 2009 tax year, the Indiana Tax Court ruled Wednesday.
7th Circuit affirms Outlaws members’ convictions, remands over suspicionless search condition
Three members of the Indianapolis Chapter of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club lost their appeals before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Tuesday, however, the judges did decide that one man’s probation condition needs further consideration.
5 arrested in protest inside US Supreme Court
Protesters disrupted Supreme Court of the United States proceedings Wednesday for the second time this year with shouted criticism of the court's previous rulings on campaign finance.
Indy could be short $37M on justice center financing, analysis says
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard's promise of financing a new justice center through operational savings is overblown, according to an analysis by the Indianapolis City-County Council.
Federal court rejects Dearborn judges’ immunity defense
A deaf man’s discrimination lawsuit against three judges in Dearborn County can proceed according to a March 30 ruling in federal court.
COA reverses ruling in favor of couple who kept alpacas in residential area
The Indiana Court of Appeals held Tuesday that a Lake County court erred when it denied the county’s request for an injunction to prevent a couple from keeping alpacas on their property to raise for business purposes.
SCOTUS sides with Idaho in Medicaid pay dispute
Private health care providers cannot sue to force states to raise their Medicaid reimbursement rates to keep up with rising medical costs, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled Tuesday.
Court finds railroad’s arguments over dam don’t hold water
Because a railroad company failed to prove there are no genuine issues of material fact regarding its defense to a breach of covenant claim against it concerning the maintenance of a dam, the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed summary judgment in its favor and remanded for further proceedings.