Man sentenced for Tippecanoe Co. bank robberies involving lame disguises
An Illinois man who pleaded guilty in a string of Indiana bank robberies pulled off while he wore wigs and fake beards as disguises has been sentenced to 40 years in prison.
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Porter Co. judge keeps pregnant inmate in jail to protect unborn child
A northwestern Indiana judge declined to release a pregnant inmate from jail after her mother pleaded to keep her locked up, saying her daughter’s history of substance abuse threatens the life of her unborn child.
Reversal reinstates firearm enhancement in aggravated battery
An appellate panel on Friday reversed dismissal of a firearm enhancement for a man who was convicted of aggravated battery, remanding for a trial on the enhancement while also cautioning the state about “careless” oversight of criminal cases.
Reversal: COA rules for accused robber in suppression dispute
A man charged with armed robbery won a reversal from the Indiana Court of Appeals on Friday after the appellate panel found the trial court erred in concluding that he was not in custody when officers searched his backpack and was not entitled to be advised of his rights.
Northern District OKs video, phone conferencing in criminal cases
Some criminal proceedings in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, including pleas and sentencings, are now authorized to take place virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the district court announced this week.
Allen County video explains court stay of residential evictions
One Indiana court is taking steps to better inform its community about changes to eviction proceedings as a result of the novel coronavirus crisis through a personal, virtual message.
Indiana liquor distribution case returns to social-distanced 7th Circuit
The protracted battle between Indiana and E.F. Transit over who can transport beer, wine and liquor spilled, again, into the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, where the judicial panel, with a majority participating remotely, heard arguments about when federal law preempts state prohibitions.
Justices affirm denied motion to dismiss in TPR dispute
A unanimous Indiana Supreme Court has affirmed the denial of a mother’s motion to dismiss her termination of parental rights petition after finding she wasn’t entitled to a dismissal under the circumstances.
COA: court can send juvenile to DOC for probation violation
In an unsuccessful challenge to a trial court’s authority to send him to the Indiana Department of Correction, a Hendricks County juvenile learned the juvenile justice system gives courts wider latitude because the goal is to rehabilitate the offending youth.
7th Circuit affirms judgment for Hendricks County officer in mentally ill man’s killing
A father who sued a Hendricks County deputy and others after his mentally ill son was fatally shot during a welfare check did not convince the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that judgment entered in the defendants’ favor was wrong.
Justices clash but rule for fired employee in duty-to-testify case
Indiana Supreme Court justices split Tuesday a dispute involving an employee who was fired after testifying at an unemployment compensation hearing, with the majority reversing in his favor. A dissenting justice would have affirmed, arguing the man didn’t have a reasonable belief of a duty to cooperate with an unissued, non-existent subpoena.
Judge certifies class action against rent-to-buy company Rainbow Realty
A federal lawsuit filed against Rainbow Realty, a rent-to-buy real estate company in Indianapolis, will proceed as a class action after the Southern Indiana District Court certified several plaintiffs’ claims including discrimination, failure to disclose and violating state habitability requirements.
SCOTUS to review police qualified immunity from lawsuits
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal by police officers who believe they deserve immunity from a lawsuit filed by college student who says he was beaten up in a case of mistaken identity.
Coronavirus update: Indiana Supreme Court issues 5 orders giving flexibility
Cases handled by the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office continue to be rescheduled or continued as the Indianapolis courts adjust operations in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Ball State joins list of schools facing students’ Title IX suits
As the U.S. Department of Education prepares to implement new regulations regarding sexual misconduct on college campuses, lawsuits filed by accused students claiming their rights were violated continue to boil over in the federal courts. Ball State University recently prevailed in the first such case brought by one of its students.
Indiana restricting abortion clinics during pandemic
As Gov. Eric Holcomb issued an executive order Monday that includes banning “elective and non-urgent” procedures at abortion clinics in Indiana during the COVID-19 emergency, federal judges were blocking similar measures in other states.
Restitution, sentence affirmed for woman who stole co-workers’ purse
A woman who stole hundreds of dollars from her co-worker’s purse did not convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that there was an error in ordering her to pay restitution of the full amount stolen or that the sentence of more than two years was inappropriate.
COA rules for insurer that declined to cover ransom paid to hacker
A Hoosier oil company that suffered monetary losses after a ransomware attack on its computer system did not convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that its insurance policy included coverage for such attacks.
Split COA affirms attempted obstruction of justice conviction in neighbor dispute
A majority of an Indiana Court of Appeals panel has affirmed a woman’s attempted obstruction of justice conviction after she confronted a neighbor who was subpoenaed to give deposition in a criminal case involving her.
Federal courts get approval for remote access
The Judicial Conference of the United States is temporarily allowing federal courts to use video and teleconferencing for certain criminal proceedings as well as teleconferencing for civil proceedings during the COVID-19 national emergency.