FBI shares hate crime statistics
In late September 2010, as part of the FBI Citizen’s Academy in Indianapolis, agents passed around photos from a cross burning that took place four years earlier in Muncie.
Federal agencies
Articles
6 counties get federal grant for drug courts
Drug courts in Delaware, Marion, Monroe, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Vigo counties will share $1 million from a Bureau of Justice Assistance Drug Court Discretionary Grant, the Indiana Supreme Court announced today. The award will help courts increase graduation rates and lower recidivism.
ALJ didn’t inform vocational expert on the totality of claimant’s limitations
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a District Court’s upholding of the Social Security Administration’s denial of a woman’s application for benefits because the Administrative Law Judge erred by not including her moderate limitation on concentration, persistence, and pace in the hypothetical he posed to a vocational expert.
Death and tax uncertainty
These days, it feels as though Uncle Sam is laughing at estate planning and wealth transfer attorneys.
Johnsen speaks publicly for first time in 2 years
Two years ago this month, an Indiana University Maurer School of Law professor was named to the transition team of President Barack Obama, not quite knowing where that experience would lead.
Johnsen to discuss confirmation process, rule of law Friday
For the first time since she was nominated to a post in the Department of Justice, Dawn Johnsen will give a public lecture at Indiana University Maurer School of Law in Bloomington on Friday.
Grants to bring improvements to Protective Order Registry
Federal grants from the Department of Justice will allow for enhancements to Indiana’s Protective Order Registry, including alerting victims by e-mail or text when an order is about to expire.
States’ lawsuit challenging federal health-care law can proceed
The lawsuit filed by 20 states, including Indiana, challenging the constitutionality of the new federal health-care law can go forward on two counts, a Florida federal judge ruled Thursday.
7th Circuit finds for energy plant
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals today reversed a decision out of Indiana regarding a claim by the Environmental Protection Agency that Cinergy Corp. was wrong to modify its coal-burning plants without first obtaining a permit from the EPA.
Senate confirms Indy lawyer as new U.S. Attorney
An Indianapolis lawyer has gotten approval to become the next U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, ending a three-year gap since last time a U.S. Senate confirmed leader held that post.
Medicaid applicants facing ‘tremendous hurdles’?
When filing a claim for Medicaid disability benefits, the process sounds straightforward: Complete an application that includes all disabilities that would make the case that you deserve the benefits. If your application is deemed sufficient by a Medicaid Medical Review Team, you get the benefits. If not, you receive a one- or two-page letter that includes information about how you can appeal.
Senate hearing Wednesday for nominated lawyer
The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold a full hearing at 10 a.m. Wednesday on the nomination of Indianapolis attorney John R. Fernandez to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development in the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Senate panel to consider Indy lawyer for U.S. Attorney
A key Congressional judiciary panel is scheduled to decide this week whether the nomination of an Indianapolis attorney for U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana should proceed to the full Senate for a vote.
Justices: BMV can require names to match SSA records
The trial court was correct to find that the public interest in preventing fraudulent use of driver’s licenses trumps some people’s desire to have their commonly used names on their licenses, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled today.
Economic espionage case full of intrigue
The government's allegations read like a spy novel: Dr. Ke-xue "John" Huang lands a job at Indianapolis-based Dow AgroSciences and over five years works himself into a position of trust, with access to trade secrets and processes the company has invested $300 million to develop.
Federal office: No Hatch Act violations in Dearborn County
A federal government office has cleared two Dearborn County officials who’d been accused by the former county attorney
of violating federal law that restricts political activity for those involved with federally funded programs.
President names former deputy sheriff for U.S. Marshal
President Barack Obama nominated Myron M. Sutton, a former deputy sheriff in Newton County in 1998-2007, as United States
Marshal for the Northern District of Indiana.
Medicaid applications review policy doesn’t violate federal law
An administrative law judge’s refusal to consider evidence of conditions that aren’t disclosed on a Medicaid disability
application doesn’t violate federal law and the Due Process Clause, a majority on the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled
today.
President nominates Joe Hogsett for U.S. Attorney
The White House has chosen Bingham McHale partner Joe Hogsett to be the next U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.
Idea for green tech patents gets mixed reviews
A federal plan to boost green technology innovation by dramatically cutting the patent processing time is drawing mixed reaction from intellectual property attorneys in Indiana as they wonder whether the pilot program will help or hurt their clients.