Old expungement law turns good luck to bad
A man’s good luck at never being charged with a crime despite four arrests turned bad when he tried to get his record expunged.
Courts
Articles
Lake County judge strikes down provision in Indiana’s right-to-work law
In a ruling that never used the popular term “right-to-work,” Lake Superior Court Judge John Sedia found a provision in Indiana’s 2012 labor law violated the state constitution’s ban on demanding services without just compensation.
Molester’s imprisonment alone insufficient to bar contact with son
Serving 50 years in prison for conviction of eight counts of Class A felony child molesting, a count of Class C felony child molesting and Class C felony criminal confinement is insufficient by itself for a court to rule an incarcerated father may not have phone or mail contact with his child, a panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.
Man extradited from Wyoming on many charges not denied speedy trial
A man who twice escaped incarceration in Indiana and was extradited to face a multitude of charges after he was convicted in Wyoming failed to convince appellate judges he had been denied a speedy trial.
Vigo court too hasty in tossing killer’s pro se PCR petition, panel rules
A man convicted of murder who represented himself in his post-conviction relief proceeding was wrongly denied a chance to plead his case, a panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday. The court reversed an order by Vigo Superior Judge Christopher Newton summarily denying the petition.
Justices to take up partial consecutive sentence case
Whether state law allows a criminal defendant to receive a partial consecutive sentence may be determined by the Indiana Supreme Court, which agreed to hear a case successfully argued by a pro se litigant to the Indiana Court of Appeals.
Deadline looms for Indy judge
Marion Superior Judge Kimberly Brown faces suspension resulting from 45 counts including accusations of wrongful jailings and misconduct.
Justices weigh $2.7 billion Rockport deal
A controversial, politically charged power plant proposal voided by an appellate court and later waylaid by the General Assembly and Gov. Mike Pence landed before the Indiana Supreme Court Sept. 5. Attorneys for and against the proposed plant pleaded that terms of the contract were on their side.
AG seeks to reinstate misconduct charges against former IURC chief
The former head of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission could again face criminal charges in connection with his alleged actions surrounding Duke Energy’s Edwardsport power plant in 2010.
7th Circuit cautions bare-bones recitation of Rule 403 insufficient
A District Court’s failure to review evidence and provide a considered analysis for admitting that evidence drew an admonishment – but no reversal – from the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Fake ID using own name not aggravated ID theft, 7th Circuit rules
An Indiana man who supplied a fake identification that used the recipient’s real name may not be subjected to the federal aggravated identity theft statute, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday in a unanimous en banc decision.
Judges to use discretion – not checklists – when imposing sentences, 7th Circuit rules
A defendant’s contention that the District Court should have considered all the mitigating factors during his sentencing was characterized by the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals as turning sentencing discussions into “checklist exercises.”
7th Circuit reinstates mechanics’ claims of faulty trailer-support design
Complaints for damages from two mechanics that were injured by a semi trailer they were working on were partially reinstated Friday by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Justices: Judge facing suspension may respond
A Marion Superior judge facing suspension and a 45-count disciplinary complaint has until Wednesday to respond to the suspension request, the Indiana Supreme Court said in an order issued Friday.
‘Appeals on Wheels’ takes teacher license suspension case to Franklin
Franklin College will host a traveling Court of Appeals oral argument Sept. 17 in which a teacher appeals the suspension of her license by a Department of Education administrative law judge.
Man who alarmed police near Lauren Spierer site appeals gun seizure
A man whose 51 guns were ordered seized by a judge who determined him dangerous after his behavior alarmed Bloomington police near the site where missing Indiana University student Lauren Spierer was last seen is asking the Indiana Supreme Court to return his firearms.
Justices weigh contract dispute in $2.7 billion Rockport coal-to-gas plan
A controversial, politically charged power plant proposal voided by an appellate court and later waylaid by the General Assembly and Gov. Mike Pence landed before the Indiana Supreme Court Thursday.
Innovative court programs get funding support from Indiana Supreme Court
The Indiana Supreme Court has awarded more than $450,000 in court reform grants for the 2013-2014 grant cycle.
Justices grant new avenue for relief for killer claiming insanity
A man condemned for the 1997 rape and murder of an 18-year-old Franklin College student is entitled to a new avenue of post-conviction relief on his argument that he is not mentally competent to be executed, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.
7th Circuit declines to second guess co-defendant credibility in firearm sentence
Contradictory testimony given in two plea agreements presented the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Evansville Division, with the “classic choice” of whom to believe.