Dickson named chief justice as court faces ‘upheaval’
Brent E. Dickson was selected Indiana chief justice Tuesday after his Supreme Court colleagues unanimously said he embodied the leadership qualities needed during a period of transition.
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Bankruptcy court issues order on maximum fee for Chapter 13 cases
The United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Indiana Chief Bankruptcy Judge Anthony J. Metz III signed an order Tuesday changing the maximum fee allowable under Local Rule B-2016-1(b).
Attorney general sues home loan modification companies
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller has filed five lawsuits against companies around the country he claims have scammed Hoosiers trying to keep their homes. Since 2006, the AG’s office has filed 110 suits against foreclosure consultant companies.
Dickson selected as chief justice
Acting Indiana Chief Justice Brent Dickson has been selected by the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission to be chief justice.
Justices accept case that divided COA on state’s abilty to appeal
The Indiana Supreme Court has taken a case in which the state appealed the grant of a motion to correct error. A split Indiana Court of Appeals concluded that the state could only appeal a denial of a motion to correct error.
Court rules man invoked right to counsel
The Indiana Court of Appeals found a man’s question, “Can I get a lawyer?” during police questioning unambiguously and unequivocally invoked his Fifth Amendment right to counsel, so the trial court erred in denying the man’s motion to suppress statements he made to police.
Indiana joins price-fixing suit against Apple
Indiana has joined a multistate lawsuit against Apple Inc. and two publishing companies for price-fixing the cost of electronic books.
Supreme Court declines attempted feticide case
The Indiana Supreme Court decided Friday that it would not take the case of a Marion County woman appealing her charges of murder and attempted feticide after ingesting rat poison in an attempt to kill herself and her unborn child.
Court reform grant applications now available
The Indiana Supreme Court Division of State Court Administration is encouraging judges to apply for the 2012 Court Reform grants. The money can be used to improve local court systems.
Surety not obligated to pay bond to subcontractor
A company that was subcontracted by another subcontractor for work on a plant construction project won’t be paid from a payment bond the subcontractor obtained because of a pay-if-paid clause in subcontractors’ contract.
Fund supports diversity in profession
A celebration of former Indiana Chief Justice Randall Shepard on Thursday set the stage for the launch of a fund in his name that will continue his legacy of promoting diversity.
14 apply for Court of Appeals vacancy
Four trial judges and 10 attorneys have indicated they would like to be the next Indiana Court of Appeals judge.
Suit claims marriage statute unconstitutional
A secular group and three of its members are suing the Marion County prosecutor and clerk, claiming an Indiana statute is unconstitutional because it says that religions are the only groups with rights to have their beliefs recognized in marriage ceremonies.
State concedes traffic stop was invalid
On the appeal of a woman’s conviction of possession of marijuana, the state conceded that the traffic stop that led to the discovery of the drug was invalid. The Indiana Court of Appeals accordingly reversed the conviction.
Judges uphold jury’s rejection of insanity defense
A woman convicted of murdering her young son has lost her appeal, in which she claimed the jury didn’t have sufficient evidence to reject her insanity defense.
COA reverses in foreclosure dispute
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed the denial of a couple’s motion for relief from judgment and request for attorney fees in a foreclosure dispute, finding the couple established the party seeking to foreclose on their property acted in bad faith.
No error in admitting deposition testimony of witness
The Indiana Court of Appeals found the trial court did not err in admitting the deposition testimony of a witness in a murder case who refused to testify at trial and whom the defendant had a chance to examine at the deposition.
Judges uphold drug convictions and sentence
A defendant’s argument that his Fourth Amendment rights were violated when police searched his vehicle and found pills failed because the man abandoned his vehicle after the traffic stop. By fleeing, he relinquished any reasonable expectation of privacy in the car, the Indiana Court of Appeals held.
Man can’t prove ineffective lawyer assistance
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of a man’s petition for post-conviction relief, finding neither his trial nor appellate counsel were ineffective in his case involving a voluntary manslaughter conviction.
Changing, walking to workstations not compensable acts
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that employees asking to be compensated for changing into safety clothing and walking to their work stations are undermining the efforts of the union that represents them.