Deputy prosecutor new Madison Circuit judge
A deputy prosecutor of Madison County was appointed as Madison Circuit judge Sunday by Gov. Mitch Daniels. Rudolph R. Pyle III succeeds Judge Fredrick Spencer, who resigned Sept. 25.
Courts
Articles
Animal cruelty an exigent circumstance
Ruling on the issue for the first time in state courts, the Indiana Court of Appeals decided animal cruelty rises to the level of exigent circumstances to permit a warrantless search of curtilage. The decision came in a man's appeal of his dog fighting convictions.
Adkins applies to drug possession defense
While the Indiana Court of Appeals unanimously agreed a defendant charged with possessing drugs within 1,000 feet of a school only has the burden of placing the issue of statutory defense in question where the state's evidence hasn't done so, the court split in affirming the defendant's possession conviction.
Judge to discuss intelligent-design ruling
The U.S. District judge who made the landmark ruling that the teaching of intelligent design in public schools is unconstitutional will speak at Indiana University Friday.
Jury instruction requires new damages trial
A jury instruction the Indiana Court of Appeals found to incorrectly state the law required the court to remand for a new trial on damages in a negligence suit.
Court names temporary judges
Two temporary judges have been selected by the Indiana Supreme Court to fill vacancies in Wayne and Madison counties.
Circuit Court vacates drug sentence
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a man's drug conviction, but vacated his sentence because it wasn't confident the District Court judge properly sentenced him.
Insurer must provide underinsured coverage
An insurance policy that doesn't provide uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage to all insureds is contrary to public policy based on Indiana statute, affirmed the Indiana Court of Appeals.
Supreme Court grants transfer to OWI case
The Indiana Supreme Court granted transfer Oct. 22 to a case involving a conviction of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.
Deputy prosecutor fired after arrest
A deputy Madison County Prosecutor has been fired following her arrest for allegedly driving drunk. Deputy Prosecutor Janine L. Sutton was arrested for operating while intoxicated, a Class A misdemeanor.
Judge orders shutdowns of plant units
A federal judge in Indianapolis has ordered the shutdown of three units at a Terre Haute coal-fired power plant because of clean air violations committed almost two decades ago.
Madison County judge resigns amid misconduct investigation
A longtime Madison County judge who’s been repeatedly sanctioned and even suspended in the past is resigning amid a new investigation
into his alleged misconduct during a 2007 murder trial.
Counties test expanded protective order registry
Eight Indiana counties will be the first to use the state's expanded electronic protective order registry. The expansion is a result of a partnership between the Indiana Supreme Court, law enforcement, clerks, and domestic violence groups.
COA: Just running red light not reckless
Ruling on the issue for the first time, the Indiana Court of Appeals held that not stopping at an intersection cannot, without more evidence, constitute criminally reckless conduct and establish a prima facie case.
High court takes workers’ compensation case
The Indiana Supreme Court granted transfer Thursday to case involving part of the worker's compensation statute that the Indiana Court of Appeals called "somewhat obscure."
Judges need more details on reduction denial
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals is sending the denial of a defendant’s motion for a sentence reduction back to the District Court because the Circuit Court needs more than the one-sentence explanation given by the lower court. U.S. District Court Judge Larry J. McKinney of the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division, denied Kelvin Marion’s motion to reduce his sentence under Section 3582(c)(2) on a form order that simply said “As directed by 18 U.S.C. § 3581(c)(2) the Court…
Grants available for family, child projects
The Indiana Court Improvement Program is accepting applications for grants for projects that will improve the safety, well-being, and permanency of families and children involved in neglect and child abuse proceedings.
St. Joe judges election bill hearing Wednesday
The Indiana Senate Judiciary Committee will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday in Room 130 at the Statehouse to discuss several bills on first reading, including House Bill 1491, which would require nonpartisan elections of St. Joseph Superior judges.
Lake County fee bill moves forward
The House Judiciary Committee met this morning to consider five bills that included assessing a $10 fee for Lake County court filings, which would be used to fund a consolidated judicial center.
UPDATE: Committee tweaking St. Joe judges bill
A legislative conference committee is debating what changes might be possible for a bill aimed at scrapping merit selection for St. Joseph Superior judges.