COA affirms for grandchildren in trust property distribution dispute
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed for more than a dozen grandchildren in their fight to secure heirship in the distribution of trust property.
Courts
Articles
Southern District promotes new clerk from within
The US District Court for the Southern District of Indiana has found a successor to its long-serving clerk, turning to a longtime servant of the court who currently works as its death penalty law clerk. Roger A.G. Sharpe will succeed retiring clerk Laura Briggs effective May 10, Chief Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson said in a press release.
Supreme Court amends rules for senior judges serving as special judge
The Indiana Supreme Court has amended Administrative Rule 5 and its references regarding the qualifications for senior judge status.
Justices turn away appeal of women who went topless at beach
The Supreme Court of the United States is leaving in place the public nudity convictions of three women who removed their bathing suit tops on a New Hampshire beach as part of a campaign advocating for the rights of women to go topless.
US Supreme Court rejects appeal in texting suicide case
The United States Supreme Court on Monday left in place the conviction of a Massachusetts woman who sent her boyfriend text messages urging him to kill himself.
White House considering dramatic expansion of travel ban
The White House is considering dramatically expanding its much-litigated travel ban to additional countries amid a renewed election-year focus on immigration by President Donald Trump, according to six people familiar with the deliberations.
Supreme Court reverses in dispute over implied adoption consent
A unanimous Indiana Supreme Court has reversed an adoption, holding that a parent’s implied consent to the adoption may not be based solely on their failure to appear at a single hearing. In doing so, justices unanimously agreed with the dissenting judge in a divided Indiana Court of Appeals ruling.
PACER user group ready to begin work in February
Twelve individuals with backgrounds in the law, media, government and academia have been selected for the new PACER User Group, which will offer input and advice for improving the federal courts’ electronic docket system as well as other electronic public access services provided by the judicial branch.
62-year sentence affirmed for Evansville teen in murder case
A 62-year sentence has been affirmed for a teenager convicted of murdering a man outside of an Evansville gas station and food market, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.
Lawrenceburg distillery loses sewer rate ordinance appeal
A Lawrenceburg distillery couldn’t persuade the Indiana Court of Appeals on Thursday to reverse a ruling upholding a regional sewer district’s adoption of an ordinance that excluded it from being considered a direct customer.
IU prof denied summary judgement in nurse’s abortion retaliation case
A federal judge has denied a motion for summary judgment to an IU nursing professor on a First Amendment claim brought by an associate professor who alleges she was passed over for a teaching position at the school because of her pro-life views.
Pair of lawsuits battle over legality of recent push for Equal Rights Amendment
Nearly 50 years after it was passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification, the Equal Rights Amendment is inciting a new round of litigation just as the Virginia Legislature is expected to soon ratify the constitutional provision.
Ex-Chicago cop wins resentencing appeal
An ex-Chicago cop serving time for drug-related convictions linked to his connection with the Latin Kings street gang will have an opportunity to have his request for a reduced sentence considered, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.
Indiana Court Decisions – Dec. 18-31, 2019
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the most recent reporting period.
Round trip: Indiana COA hears arguments in all 92 counties
The Indiana Court of Appeals has wrapped up its pursuit of visiting every county through its Appeals on Wheels program. Introduced during the appellate court’s centennial in 2001, the traveling program has ventured statewide to high schools, colleges, law schools and other venues, promoting civics education by inviting local communities to observe how the appellate judiciary works.
7th Circuit orders $1,000 sanction against Crawfordsville attorney accused of altering evidence
A Crawfordsville attorney accused of altering photos submitted as evidence in a slip-and-fall case must pay a $1,000 sanction to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. The attorney has also self-reported the underlying incident to the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission.
New pretrial release rule adds risk assessments for booked inmates
A new Indiana rule requiring that booked inmates be assessed to determine risks or benefits of releasing them before trial is expected to eventually reduce overcrowding at the state’s county jails, criminal justice officials say. Criminal Rule 26, which set Indiana’s new pretrial release protocols, was adopted by the Indiana Supreme Court in 2017, but it didn’t take effect statewide until Jan. 1.
Bradford elected COA chief judge, succeeding Vaidik
The judges of the Indiana Court of Appeals have elected Judge Cale Bradford to serve for the next three years as the lower appellate court’s chief judge. He succeeds Judge Nancy Vaidik, whose term as chief expired last month. Bradford, whose term began Jan. 1., has served on the Court of Appeals for nearly 13 years.
Indiana asks SCOTUS to uphold Louisiana admitting-privileges abortion law
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill has requested that the United States Supreme Court uphold a Louisiana law requiring all ambulatory surgical centers, including abortion clinics, to hold admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.
Indiana man faces trial in 1994 Wisconsin murder case
A judge ordered an Indiana man to stand trial for the 1994 death of a woman who was strangled and run over with a car in Madison, Wisconsin. Dane County Circuit Judge Valerie Bailey-Rihn said during a hearing Thursday that there’s enough evidence for 52-year-old Willie L. Coleman to be tried for first-degree reckless homicide in the Nov. 4, 1994, death Lula Cunnigan.