Man pleads guilty to robbery in Gary shootout that wounded agent
A Chicago man who was involved in an Indiana shootout in which a federal agent was wounded and another suspect was killed has pleaded guilty to robbery.
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Justices: Decades-old rule in fixed plea modifications still stands
In upholding a decades-old rule recently codified through a legislative amendment, the Indiana Supreme Court has ruled in companion cases that trial courts can only modify a sentence entered as part of a fixed-plea agreement if the modified sentence would not have violated the plea agreement at the time the sentence was originally imposed.
COA upholds denial of challenge to 6 med-mal jurors
A judge sitting on a medical malpractice case who denied for-cause challenges to six jurors did not abuse his discretion in denying the challenges, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled, pointing to the “substantial discretion” trial court judges have over voir dire.
Resuming executions: As DOJ reinstates capital punishment, Southern District unsure what’s next
With federal death row in its jurisdiction, the Southern Indiana District Court is preparing but does not know what to expect as the U.S. Department of Justice moves forward with the resumption of executions after nearly two decades.
New law lets some defendants’ community service offset court costs
Legislation that took effect last month is providing offenders a new option to offset their court fees. Rather than incarceration, the new law would let people struggling to pay their court costs work off their debt through community service or volunteering.
Couple severely injured in motorcycle crash loses appeal of evidentiary rulings
A Dyer, Indiana, couple severely injured in a motorcycle accident has lost an appeal of a products liability suit against a motorcycle gear website, a tire manufacturer and Harley-Davidson.
Blind Hoosiers claim Indiana failing to provide access to benefits programs
Claiming “systemic violations of the civil rights of blind Indiana residents,” two individuals and the National Federation of the Blind filed a complaint in federal court Tuesday against the directors of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration and the Indiana Division of Family Resources. The plaintiffs assert the defendants failed to provide printed communications about government benefits in alternative formats, such as Braille, and instead directed the blind individuals to have sighted third parties read the materials to them.
CHINS adjudication affirmed for bruised infant
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed the CHINS adjudication of an infant who was bruised by suspected physical abuse less than a week after his birth, denying his parents’ appeal of the order.
Northern District offering domestic violence representation CLE
Attorneys interested in representing victims of domestic violence in court can learn about providing pro bono civil assistance during a continuing legal education program offered by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.
District Court: IPS must face teacher’s age discrimination claims
A former Indianapolis Public Schools teacher’s age discrimination claims will proceed against her former employer after a district court judge determined that a factfinder could conclude that IPS failed to hire her because of her age.
Louisiana lawsuit: Forced bar association dues are unconstitutional
A lawsuit filed against Louisiana’s Supreme Court and the Louisiana State Bar Association says attorneys in the state are unconstitutionally forced to join the association and pay dues. The federal lawsuit says the mandatory bar association membership violates attorneys’ freedom of speech and association rights.
Indiana landlord seeks Supreme Court’s help in land dispute
A northwestern Indiana landlord wants the U.S. Supreme Court to wade into his dispute with the city of Hammond and overturn a city order directing him to remove five apartments that he’s leased to tenants in what was once a single-family home. Jose Andrade, who argues that Hammond’s order violates his constitutional rights, has filed a petition for review with the nation’s highest court.
Ex-prosecutor Cooper suspended after guilty pleas
Former Johnson County Prosecutor Bradley Cooper has been suspended from the practice of law in Indiana after being sentenced on three felony domestic battery charges last month.
Reversal: Man can’t build concrete seawall on lake property
A man’s permission to build a concrete wall on his northern Indiana lakefront property has been halted now that the Indiana Court of Appeals has reversed a trial court’s reversal of his denied application.
Judgment against car dealership upheld for customer in fraudulent sale
A Fort Wayne car dealership lost its appeal of a small-claims case against a woman who won a judgment arguing the dealership fraudulently sold her a car and forged her signature on transaction documents related to the sale.
Supreme Court issues amended child support guidelines
Amendments made to Indiana’s Child Support Guidelines have been issued by the Indiana Supreme Court following a request for public comment earlier this year.
7th Circuit vacates denial of disability benefits to woman with mental illness
A bipolar woman’s application for disability benefits will be reconsidered after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals concluded an administrative law judge failed to consider her treating psychiatrist’s opinions in its denial.
Judgment for spouse affirmed in military pension benefits appeal
A military veteran ordered to pay his ex-wife lost pension benefits after he opted to receive combat-related service compensation has lost his appeal of a partial denial of his motion to vacate judgment.
Prisoner’s puzzling pro se appeal again leads to dismissal
Deficiencies in a pro se prisoner’s appellate filings have once again prevented the Indiana Court of Appeals from considering the man’s argument against an unfavorable trial court judgment.
After SCOTUS ruling, 7th Circuit reaffirms ‘crime of violence’ vague
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals will stick with its initial decision to vacate and remand two men’s sentences after the United States Supreme Court concluded that the definition of “crime of violence” in 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(3)(B) was unconstitutionally vague.