Courts
Articles
COA reverses judgment on 1 cross-claim in library appeal
The Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library should be able to pursue a cross-claim against an engineering company for breach
of professional standard of care, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled today.
SCOTUS has historic day in ending session
On a historic day for the Supreme Court of the United States, one justice stepped down after more than three decades as his
successor began her confirmation hearings before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.
Partnership targets Indiana’s corrections system
To address Indiana’s growing prison population and increasing related costs, the state is partnering with The Pew Center
on the States and the Council of State Governments Justice Center for the first comprehensive review of the state’s
criminal code and sentencing policies since 1976.
Justices order trial on reasonable force issue
A law enforcement officer’s use of force in excess of reasonable force authorized by statute isn't shielded from
liability under the "enforcement of a law" immunity under Indiana Code Section 34-13-3-3(8), the Indiana Supreme
Court held today.
Court: refusal to identify law applies to passengers
Although state law allows police to request identification from passengers inside a car that they’ve stopped, two Indianapolis
officers shouldn’t have done arrested a man for refusing to identify himself when there was no reasonable suspicion
he’d done anything wrong.
Camm’s attorneys seek special judge
Defense attorneys for the former state trooper facing a third triple-murder trial want the Indiana Supreme Court to name a special judge because of what they say are delays from the current presiding judge.
Eyeing new magistrate openings
Within a year, the federal court system that covers the southern half of Indiana could have two new full-time magistrates, one being a newly created position that would be the first creation of its kind in almost three decades.

2 new judges on federal court make history
History has been written within the state’s legal community, thanks to a pair of new federal judges who within days
of each other joined the Southern District of Indiana.

Robo-calls at issue in Indiana courts
A line of litigation has been playing out in state and federal courts involving what is and isn’t allowed under the Automatic
Dialing Machines Statute.
Revised rule cuts time to request continuance
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Indiana revised Local Rule B-5071-1 on continuances.
Magistrate judge applications due July 14
Anyone interested in becoming the newest magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court’s Southern District of Indiana
has until July 14 to apply.
Checkpoint doesn’t violate separation of powers
The use of sobriety checkpoints does not violate the separation of powers provision in the state’s constitution, the
Indiana Court of Appeals ruled today.
SCOTUS rules on Indiana steel plant case
The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled on a case about a northern Indiana steel processing plant, overturning the
7th Circuit Court of Appeals and effectively limiting how a federal labor-relations board is able to conduct business regarding
employee and union rights.
Judge Magnus-Stinson takes oath
The newest judge for the Southern District of Indiana was sworn in Monday to officially become a U.S. District Judge.
Senate confirms Judge Tanya Walton Pratt
Marion Superior Judge Tanya Walton Pratt has just received confirmation from the U.S. Senate, meaning she'll become state's
first African-American federal judge and one of four female jurists on Indiana's federal bench.
Committee OKs idea of new Indiana federal magistrate
The state could be on its way to getting a new federal magistrate in the Southern District of Indiana, the first new magistrate
in more than two decades.
Justices say sentencing scores can be used
State trial judges can consider sentencing scores to help tailor penalties to individual defendants, as long as those results
aren’t used as final aggravating or mitigating factors in deciding a penalty length, the Indiana Supreme Court says
Court rules on literacy program, educational credit time
While applauding a prison inmate for pursuing higher education while behind bars, the Indiana Court of Appeals has determined
that man shouldn’t receive additional educational credit time for a program the state system doesn’t consider
to fit into its definition of “literacy and life skills” programs.
Man’s suit filed after all statutes of limitations
The Indiana Court of Appeals agreed a Logansport resident has standing to sue his city over the operation and management of
a city park, but that his suit is barred by statutes of limitations.