AG Hill says extended stop arms are OK for school buses
Indiana’s attorney general says the state’s school districts are free to use extended stop arms to prevent other vehicles from passing school buses.
Education
Articles
7th Circuit reinstates student case against Purdue in sexual assault case
Finding dismissal was premature, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated a lawsuit against Purdue University brought by a male student accused of sexual assault.
Many new Indiana laws take effect today
Several new state laws take effect Monday, from a required high school state government test to allowing wrongfully incarcerated individuals to collect $50,000 a year.
Divided Supreme Court upholds civil forfeiture reimbursement of law enforcement
The practice of diverting civil forfeiture proceeds away from the Common School Fund to reimburse law enforcement costs is constitutional under Article 8, Section 2 of the Indiana Constitution, the Indiana Supreme Court has ruled, answering the longstanding question of whether the constitution requires all forfeiture proceeds to go to the Common School Fund.
Web Exclusive: Taft employees volunteer time, funds for IPS 58 students
Taft Stettinius & Hollister joined forces with United Way of Central Indiana in 2011 with the sole focus of creating and funding a robust afterschool program at IPS 58. Since both partners have joined hands with the school, Taft has donated more $1 million to help fund the afterschool program and other like academic initiatives.
Brebeuf, Cathedral take opposing stances over gay teachers
Leaders at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School say the school will no longer be recognized by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis as a Catholic school after Brebeuf refused to fire a “highly capable and qualified teacher” who is married to a same-sex partner. Meanwhile, Cathedral High School took the opposite position.
Lawsuit: School’s transgender policy violated teacher’s religious beliefs
A Brownsburg music teacher who claims he lost his job because he refused to address transgender students by the first names of their choice has filed a federal lawsuit against the Brownsburg Community School Corporation for violating his First Amendment religious freedom and free speech rights.
Ruling for IU in black student’s discrimination suit upheld
A 7th Circuit Court of Appeals panel affirmed the denial of a black student’s discrimination suit against Indiana University, finding no abuse of discretion in resolving discovery disputes regarding her classmate’s demographics.
IPS pays $600K to settle counselor sex abuse lawsuits
Indianapolis Public Schools paid almost $600,000 to settle three lawsuits in a case involving a former school counselor who was accused of having sex with students.
Notre Dame Law dean Newton leaves legacy of academic rigor, sustained support
The folks who “keep the trains running on time” at the Notre Dame Law School have a special affinity for Dean Nell Jessup Newton. The staff hosted an informal afternoon reception on the last Wednesday in May to recognize and thank her for her leadership as she prepares to step down as dean at the end of June.
Notre Dame professor John Copeland Nagle dies at 58
John Copeland Nagle, Notre Dame Law School’s John N. Matthews Professor of Law, died Saturday following a brief illness. He was 58.
Indiana law schools likely will meet new ABA bar exam standard
Law schools must now have 75 percent of their graduates pass the bar exam within two years of completing their J.D. degrees after a twice-defeated accreditation standard was approved Friday by the American Bar Association. Opponents worry the change will hurt efforts to diversify the legal profession.
Title IX investigation ends with IU Maurer professor’s departure
When Ian Samuel returned to Twitter on Friday after a nearly six-month absence, he posted his letter of resignation, announcing his decision to leave Indiana University Maurer School of Law.
Lawyer discipline hearing in Park Tudor case could be closed
The attorney facing professional ethics charges over his handling of sexual misconduct accusations against a now-imprisoned former Park Tudor basketball coach will be permitted to provide some evidence under seal, and at least portions of his attorney discipline hearing may be closed to the public.
Finding the best law school fit
Courtship season is in full bloom, but forget loving and cherishing — these “marriages” are about test scores, rankings and scholarships. Law schools are proposing their best offers while applicants are trying to decide if the match is meant to be or if they may be able to do better.
Lawmakers approve $34.6B budget to wrap up session
The Indiana General Assembly has approved the state’s $34.6 billion budget for the next two years, sending it to Gov. Eric Holcomb for his signature days ahead of the legislative deadline.
State lawmakers pad DCS budget, hike school funding only slightly
State lawmakers are poised to increase school funding by 2.5 percent each year in a $34 billion final budget plan — just slightly more than the amount proposed last week by the Indiana Senate. Meanwhile, the Indiana Department of Child Services’ budget will jump by more than a half-billion dollars over the next two fiscal years.
COA rejects ex-teacher’s defamation claims against Elkhart Truth
A former Elkhart teacher who alleged a newspaper defamed him by writing an article about his federal lawsuit against the school that fired him failed to convince an appellate panel that the issue was not of public interest, or that the article was not written in good faith.
New IU Maurer professorship honors first black, female U.S. state justice
The Indiana University Maurer School of Law has announced the creation of a trailblazing endowed professorship – the first in Indiana University history to honor an African-American woman, and the law school’s first named after a woman of color.
COA upholds judgment for university against former employees
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of two former Oakland City University employees’ claims against the school and its president, concluding they were not fraudulently induced into their employment or fired in retaliation for uncovering misuse of public funds.