7th Circuit expands inquiry to implicit motion for new attorney
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals expanded caselaw today when ruling on a defendant’s request for new counsel.
Drugs
Articles
Court defines due process rights for drug court participants
The Indiana Court of Appeals agreed with a defendant that his due process rights were denied when his participation in a drug
court program was ended without giving him notice of a hearing, or allowing him to present evidence and cross-examine witnesses.
7th Circuit ends use of inextricable intertwinement doctrine
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a defendant’s perjury conviction and in doing so, concluded that resorting to
inextricable intertwinement is unavailable when determining a theory of admissibility.
Defendants entitled to competency hearing in probation revocations
Defendants are entitled to a competency hearing as part of their due process rights, the Indiana Court of Appeals concluded
today, addressing the issue for the first time.
Court addresses fine line between traffic stop, arrest
The Indiana Court of Appeals has reversed a man’s drunk driving and marijuana possession convictions based on police
officer conduct, finding that the officer shouldn’t have held a gun and handcuffed him during what could have been a
legitimate traffic stop.
Use of wrong statute requires reversal of dealing conviction
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a Class A felony conviction of dealing in cocaine because the trial court instructed
the jury on an incorrect version of the statute that allows for enhancing dealing convictions.
Justices address habitual-offender statute
The Indiana Supreme Court tackled the state’s habitual-offender statute today in two separate rulings, finding that
an instant offense of drug dealing, coupled with a prior conviction, can qualify a defendant as a habitual offender.
Judges affirm elevated drug convictions
The state presented sufficient evidence to prove a defendant delivered and possessed methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of
a family housing complex, so the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed elevating his convictions to a higher felony level.
Translated transcripts necessary for jury
A trial court didn’t abuse its discretion when it admitted transcripts translated into English of drug transactions
recorded in Spanish because the jury wouldn’t be able to understand the recording, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled.
Officer’s questions went beyond seat belt act
The inquiry by a police officer to a driver stopped for a seat belt violation about the "large, unusual bulge"
in his pants went beyond the state's Seatbelt Enforcement Act, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled Thursday.
Justices differ on defining ‘youth program center’
Two Indiana Supreme Court justices objected to affirming a man’s drug sentence for possession within 1,000 feet of a
“youth program center” because the church that ran the programs wasn’t easily identifiable as regularly
running programs for kids.
Court rejects stale trash evidence argument
The Indiana Court of Appeals has rejected an argument that evidence found in a trash search was stale because no other garbage
had been collected in the past two weeks and that seized material could have been too old.
Judges disagree on chemical possession charge
A panel of Indiana Court of Appeal judges disagreed as to whether a defendant who stole anhydrous ammonia with the intent of selling it to a third party in the future to make methamphetamine, but who never actually sold the chemical, could be charged with possession with intent to manufacture methamphetamine.
Justices decide statute, court rule issue
Even if a court rule is no longer relevant and an underlying state statute has been removed from the books, the Indiana Supreme Court says it still applies and must be followed until the justices revisit it themselves or say otherwise.
Inconsistent jury verdicts not reviewable
Inconsistent, contradictory, or irreconcilable jury verdicts in criminal cases aren't available for appellate review, the Indiana Supreme Court held Thursday.
High court defines ‘briefly’
In two cases involving a statutory defense to possession or dealing of drugs within 1,000 feet of a school, the Indiana Supreme Court defined the term "briefly" and ruled on whether the defendants were briefly near schools when they committed their crimes.
COA: Consent prevented constitutional violations
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of two defendants' motion to suppress evidence even though it wasn't reasonable under the Indiana Constitution because one of the men gave his consent to search the bag which held drugs.
Officer didn’t conduct investigatory stop
A trial court didn't abuse its discretion in admitting evidence that a juvenile possessed marijuana because the seizure of the drug didn't violate the teen's constitutional rights, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled.
COA reverses dismissal of drug charges
A trial court erred when it sua sponte decided to exclude evidence from a warrantless search of a defendant's car and dismiss the drug charges against him as a result of that search, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled today.
Justices split in granting transfer
The Indiana Supreme Court was split in its decision to deny transfer in a case in which a defendant claimed misconduct by the prosecutor when he read a poem about drugs during voir dire.