South Bend school wins national competition; 2013 event to be in Indiana
For the second time in three years, South Bend’s John Adams High School won the annual National High School Mock Trial Championship.
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Event focuses on justice system, youth with disabilities
The 9th annual Conference on Health, Disability and the Law at Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis will examine youth with disabilities in the justice system.
COA: man doesn’t have to testify for self-defense instruction
The Indiana Court of Appeals ordered a new trial for a man convicted of murder because the trial court erred by refusing to instruct the jury on self-defense without the defendant’s testimony.
High court splits on molestation conviction
The Indiana Supreme Court was divided Wednesday in an opinion regarding whether a man could be charged with Class C felony child molesting 16 years after he last molested his stepniece.
Court hasn’t chosen new state public defender
State Public Defender Susan Carpenter retires Tuesday after nearly three decades in that position, and no decision has been made as to who will succeed her.
Appellate court addresses parental privilege in 2 opinions
In two cases involving the parental privilege defense, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled in favor of a teacher who “flicked” a special education student’s tongue and against a father hit his daughter numerous times with a belt.
Justices accept church-property dispute
The Indiana Supreme Court has agreed to take a case between a Vanderburgh County church and its former national organization dealing with what happens to the local church property after the local church defected to another Presbyterian organization.
Justices bar Arizona lawyer due to advertising rule violations
Out-of-state attorneys have received a fresh warning from the Indiana Supreme Court, one that specifically reiterates that everyone should know this state’s attorney advertising rules when promoting oneself as being “specialized” in a particular area of law or practicing with a “national firm.”
Court rules on public defender fee imposition
The Indiana Court of Appeals has decided that a state statute’s indigency hearing requirement doesn’t apply when a defendant has entered into a cash bail-bond agreement, meaning a trial court can use that bond money to pay court costs such as the imposed public defender fee.
Hamilton County judge receives public reprimand
The Indiana Supreme Court issued a public reprimand against Hamilton Superior Judge William J. Hughes, the disciplinary sanction stemming from an out-of-state drunk driving arrest.
Justices rule on first impression issue involving sentence modification
The Indiana Supreme Court handed down two opinions Thursday afternoon in which the justices found the trial judges involved erred in modifying the defendants’ sentences from Class D felonies to Class A misdemeanors.
Insurer not entitled to rescind home insurance policy
The failure to disclose true value in a real estate insurance context doesn’t give rise to a rescission claim, the Indiana Court of Appeals held in a case of first impression.
Officials weigh-in on ACLU immigration lawsuit
The governor has no comment on a class-action lawsuit filed Wednesday regarding Senate Enrolled Act 590, said Jane Jankowski, spokeswoman for Gov. Mitch Daniels. The suit – filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana – aims to prevent two components of the immigration legislation from becoming law on July 1.
Court reverses feticide convictions on double jeopardy grounds
The man who shot a pregnant teller during a bank robbery, which led to the death of her twins, had his two felony feticide convictions vacated by the Indiana Court of Appeals because of double jeopardy violations.
Southern District lobby hours changing
The lobby hours for the clerk’s offices in the United States District Court and Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of Indiana will be different beginning July 1. Both clerk’s lobby hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. These changes are applicable to all divisions in the Southern District.
Hundreds gather for rally against Indiana Supreme Court ruling
Nearly 300 people gathered on the steps of the Indiana Statehouse Wednesday, many calling for the recall of Indiana Supreme Court Justice Steven H. David. Justice David authored the recent high court ruling that held individuals don’t have the right to resist police who enter their home, even if those entries are illegal.
ACLU of Indiana files suit against immigration legislation
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday in the U.S. District Court’s Southern District of Indiana, challenging the wording of a new Indiana law designed to curb illegal immigration.
Issue of fact precludes summary judgment in insurance case
Neither side in a dispute over whether a deceased man’s auto insurer should provide coverage for losses from an accident that occurred while he was driving his girlfriend’s car is entitled to summary judgment, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday. A genuine issue of material fact remains as to whether the girlfriend’s car was furnished or available for the man’s regular use.
Bankruptcy courts amend local rules, seek comment
The United States Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of Indiana has amended several local rules. In the Northern District, the Bankruptcy Court seeks comment on a proposed rule change.
Panel orders lower court to enforce protective order
Highlighting a bias in state statute relating to protective orders, the Indiana Court of Appeals has held that an accuser’s request for a civil contempt hearing against someone alleged to have violated a protective order can’t be tied to any other criminal or civil proceedings under way or available in the future.