Justices amend rules governing firm names, letterheads
The Indiana Supreme Court has issued an order amending a rule of the court concerning firm names and letterheads.
Ethics & Professional Responsibility
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AG Hill suspended for 30 days with automatic reinstatement
Finding Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill guilty of misdemeanor battery and two related violations of the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct, the Indiana Supreme Court has ordered him to serve a 30-day suspension.
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Man charged in judges’ shooting claims self-defense, says judges were aggressors
The man charged with shooting two southern Indiana judges outside an Indianapolis fast food restaurant last year claimed in a Tuesday court filing that he acted in self-defense. The notice of affirmative defense also alleges the judges were the aggressors as alleged gunman Brandon Kaiser and his nephew, Alfredo Vazquez, were stopping to eat at a downtown White Castle, where the shooting took place in the parking lot.
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Wise counsel when moving between firms
Law firm managers have long known they can’t require attorneys to sign noncompete agreements when they join a firm. Even so, there have still been instances where firms have made it challenging for a lawyer trying to make a lateral move. But a recent opinion from the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility makes it clear that any provision of an employment agreement that interferes with a client’s autonomy is never acceptable.
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Hill accusers provide emotional testimony
Testimony in the attorney discipline action against Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill continues Tuesday after emotional remarks Monday from the women who have accused him of sexual misconduct.
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Articles
Disciplinary Actions
Read who has been reinstated, reprimanded and suspended during the most recent reporting period.
Trump’s legal team cried vote fraud, but courts found none
The Trump campaign legal strategy to overturn the results of the election may have played well in front of television cameras and on talk radio to Trump’s supporters, but it has proved a disaster in court. Judges uniformly rejected claims of vote fraud and found the campaign’s legal work amateurish.
Justices permit remote attorney disciplinary proceedings
Indiana Supreme Court justices in a Wednesday order provided instructions to hearing officers and parties in attorney disciplinary proceedings that have not yet proceeded to final hearing, perhaps most significantly permitting remote proceedings due to the continuing pandemic.
Hammond loses motion to dismiss after counsel makes misleading representation
An employment discrimination lawsuit against the city of Hammond will proceed after a federal court denied a motion to dismiss, finding counsel for the city had made misleading representations about her knowledge of the plaintiff’s hospitalization for a stroke.
COA orders acquittal of Long Beach man convicted of of fatally shooting wife
The Indiana Court of Appeals on Monday ordered the acquittal of John Larkin, convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2012 shooting death of his wife. In overturning the verdict, the appellate panel concluded the LaPorte Superior Court erred in instructing Larkin’s jury. The years-long case was marked by police and prosecutorial misconduct.
Justices suspend attorney following multiple OWI arrests
A Huntington County lawyer who was arrested five times in a little more than a year on alcohol-related charges has been suspended from the practice of law for 180 days, with half of that time stayed.
Justices amend rules, disciplinary process for court interpreters
The Indiana Supreme Court has amended the rules governing court interpreters, with the changes set to take effect Jan. 1. The court approved the amendments to the Interpreter Code of Conduct & Procedure and the Disciplinary Process for Certified Court Interpreters & Candidates for Interpreter Certification.
Indiana attorney general may face bill over discipline case
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill could face a big bill from the disciplinary case stemming from allegations that he groped a state lawmaker and three other women during a party. The disciplinary commission has asked the Indiana Supreme Court to order Hill to pay more than $50,000 in costs related to the ethics investigation that resulted in his 30-day suspension.
Bell & Grass: 3 things to know about attorneys’ social media
Because our parents (who have trouble with remote controls) are now officially on Facebook, we can safely assume that close to all attorneys are using social media. Using social media is simply an inexpensive and convenient way to get the word out about your law firm. However, there is an element of risk that comes along with an attorney’s use of social media. These risks were highlighted in July, when the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission listed social media’s many “minefields.”
Special judge steps down in fired Cathedral teacher case
Asserting the Archdiocese of Indianapolis made claims that are “irrelevant, inaccurate, misleading or make incorrect inferences,” the Marion Superior Court denied the church’s attempt to remove the special judge appointed to preside over the case involving the firing of a gay teacher at Cathedral High School. The judge did step aside, however, citing personal reasons.
Supreme Court permits cameras in court year-round for adoption celebrations
Indiana families celebrating the adoption of a new child into their families will now be able to capture the moments of that union in court via camera, no matter what time of year it is.
Supreme Court honors judicial officers for service, higher education
The Indiana Supreme Court on Tuesday recognized judges and magistrates across the state for their commitment to higher education and longtime service.
Tightrope act: Judges balance social issues, impartiality
Scenes from protests have dominated television screens for months. People of all ages, sizes, races, genders and backgrounds have participated in events calling for an end to racial inequality. But how do judges fit into the mix?
IndyBar: The Unique Relationship between Lawyers and Judges
As lawyers, many of our relationships are governed by our rules of professional conduct. For the most part, these rules place burdens, limits and duties on us. The judge-lawyer relationship, however, is governed by interlocking rules from both sides.
Bar applicants ace August 2020 exam
Indiana’s unprecedented bar exam that was reformatted and delayed until August 2020 because of the coronavirus has turned in a pass rate that tops the previous four years. Almost three-quarters of those who took the remote test passed, according to the list released Tuesday.
Allen County offers court staff implicit bias training
Allen Circuit and Superior Courts and Fort Wayne United will collaborate in implicit bias training for court staff at a session Tuesday at the Embassy Theatre in Fort Wayne.
Watchdog groups charge Republican Convention appearances broke Hatch Act
Two White House officials violated the Hatch Act by participating in choreographed events that were aired during this week’s Republican National Convention, according to two separate ethics complaints filed by government watchdog groups.
Advisory opinion: Judges can advise family members behind the scenes
Indiana judges can advise family members on legal issues, but they must do so in a behind-the-scenes way that does not “trade on the prestige” of their office, a judicial ethics opinion issued Thursday says.
Whitestown attorney suspended from practice of law for noncooperation
The Indiana Supreme Court has suspended a Whitestown lawyer from the practice of law for his noncooperation with the disciplinary commission.