Disciplinary Actions – 10/8/14
Read who’s been recently disciplined by the Indiana Supreme Court.
Courts
Articles
Unanimous Supreme Court holds death certificates are public records
Taking what it called a “plain reading” of the state statute, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled death certificates which include the cause of death are public records and should be available to anyone who requests access.
7th Circuit rules against insurer in jurisdiction dispute
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a federal court judgment in favor of an insurer after the insurer’s motion to intervene in a state court lawsuit on the same matter was denied. The federal court incorrectly determined the state court did not have jurisdiction over an injured worker’s lawsuit.
Mother loses custody after COA rules trial court had jurisdiction
A mother’s argument that the trial court did not have jurisdiction to grant full custody of her daughter to the girl’s father did not convince the Indiana Court of Appeals, which found an agreement between the parents gave the court jurisdiction.
Accomplice in jewelry store robbery loses sentence appeal
The 45-year sentence imposed on an accomplice in a jewelry store robbery was affirmed by the Indiana Court of Appeals Tuesday, even though the crime to which he pleaded guilty is now punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years.
Indianapolis man gets 28 years for coercing sex
A judge sentenced an Indianapolis man to 28 years in prison Monday for tricking teenage girls as young as 13 into sending him explicit photos via Facebook and using the photos to coerce the girls into having sex with him.
Marion County to create veterans court
Marion County plans to start a veterans court next year, a specialized problem-solving court that will allow diversion of lower-level criminal offenses for those who served in the military.
INBOX: Keep Marion County Small Claims out of Superior Court
A reader believes the rational solution to issues in Marion County Small Claims Courts is to keep the system as it is and not move it to Marion Superior Court.
Officer’s meth-exposure claims untangled by appeals court
The Indiana Court of Appeals rules an injured city policeman must exhaust workers’ comp remedies before turning to the injured-on-duty statute.
SCOTUS denial of marriage lawsuits creates historic day
The decision by the Supreme Court of the United States not to hear any of the same-sex marriage cases before it was unexpected but very welcomed by the same-sex couples and their attorneys who challenged Indiana’s marriage ban.
Millions more sought for representation of juveniles
The money is needed for guardians ad litem and court appointed special advocates, and to pay for the new rule requiring defenders in delinquency cases.
City-County Building entrance closed for metal detector fix
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office will close the south public entrance to the Indianapolis City-County Building until repairs can be made to a metal detector that has been out of commission for weeks.
SCOTUS rejects 3 Indiana cases
The Supreme Court of the United States on Monday declined to review a ruling that struck down Indianapolis’ limits on the hours that adult bookstores can operate.
Justices’ decision means same-sex marriage legal in Indiana
The decision by the Supreme Court of the United States not to hear any of the same-sex marriage cases before them was unexpected but very welcomed by the same-sex couples and their attorneys who had challenged Indiana’s marriage ban.
Judge rejects call for anonymous jury in trial
A federal judge has rejected prosecutors' request to keep juror identities confidential at the January murder and racketeering trial of an East Chicago man.
Indiana county settles dispute with forensics firm
A southern Indiana county has reached a settlement in its billing dispute with a forensics company that testified on the prosecution's behalf last year in a triple-murder trial.
Special prosecutor sought in case involving judge
A central Indiana prosecutor is seeking a special prosecutor to hear allegations that a Muncie City Court judge intimidated another woman during a confrontation outside that woman's home.
Ogden quitting law, citing high disciplinary fine
Indianapolis attorney and blogger Paul Ogden said he is quitting the practice of law rather than pay costs of more than $10,000 imposed on him as the result of a disciplinary case involving private comments he made about a judge.
Justices add criminal and child support cases to docket
Whether a person’s proximity to a crime scene together with circumstantial evidence is sufficient for conviction is the question for the Indiana Supreme Court in one of two cases justices will review.
New Indiana attorneys sworn in at admission ceremony
The Indiana Board of Law Examiners reported that 378 of the aspiring lawyers who sat for the July bar exam were successful in that effort. On Monday, Indiana’s newest class of lawyers was sworn in at an admission ceremony hosted by the Indiana Supreme Court.