Councilman apologizes for calling protesters ‘uneducated’
A northeastern Indiana county councilman has apologized for calling Black Lives Matter protesters “uneducated” and lamenting that they “breed.”
First Amendment
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Bolton critique of Trump could define tell-all book court battles
The White House fight with former national security adviser John Bolton is the latest chapter in a lengthy history of Washington book battles, yet it will likely define future cases between the U.S. government and former employees determined to write tell-alls.
Indianapolis lawyers hosting ‘Call to Action’ for racial equality
As demonstrations and calls for criminal justice reform continue nationwide, a group of Indianapolis lawyers have organized a “Call to Action” to highlight the role lawyers can play in the push for racial equality. The new organization Indy Lawyers for Black Lives will host a Juneteenth event Friday at IU McKinney School of Law.
Roncalli, archdiocese lose bid to limit discovery in fired counselor’s discrimination suit
The Indianapolis Archdiocese and an affiliated high school have once again lost a bid to limit discovery in a fired employee’s same-sex discrimination lawsuit to the question of whether the plaintiff’s claims fall under the First Amendment’s “ministerial exception.”
Lawsuit challenges IMPD actions against protesters
Indy 10 Black Lives Matter and the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana have sued the city of Indianapolis, seeking to end the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s use of chemical weapons and projectiles against protesters.
Man who protested brother’s shooting by police fatally shot
A southern Indiana man who helped organize recent protests in seeking answers to his brother’s police-action shooting death has been fatally shot, authorities said.
Minivan driver charged after striking Indianapolis protesters
A woman who allegedly struck pedestrians with her minivan during a Monday protest on Monument Circle has been charged with felony criminal recklessness.
Prosecutor probing Indianapolis cops’ beating of black woman
A prosecutor said he has opened a criminal investigation into Indianapolis police officers who were caught on video using batons to subdue a black woman at a protest over the death of George Floyd.
Protests turn to rage
Peaceful protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd on the last weekend in May in downtown Indianapolis turned violent with police launching tear gas and protesters vandalizing and destroying businesses. Windows were shattered, stores were looted, fires were set and graffiti was spray-painted everywhere. Protests took place across the state including in Evansville, Jeffersonville Fort Wayne, Hammond, Michigan City, South Bend, and Lafayette.
Attorneys despair, but see reason for anger in the streets
Following a weekend of violent protests in Indianapolis that damaged many downtown businesses, attorney Maurice Scott of Scott Legal & Consulting cautioned against getting distracted by bricks and mortar. “The focus should not be on the property damage,” Scott said. “The focus should be on the people who are not being heard, not being seen and not being part of the decision-making process.”
Asian Pacific American bar speaks out against racism, calls for legislative action
As protests continue nationwide over racial inequities in the criminal justice system, the local chapter of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association is offering its support for the black community while encouraging peaceful protests and legislative action.
ISBA offering ‘legal observer’ protest training tonight
Amid continuing national protests following the police killing of George Floyd, the Indiana State Bar Association is offering free “legal observer” training today to those who want to help protect the rights of peaceful protestors.
Incoming McKinney dean Bravo: ‘Failure to speak up would let down the law school and legal community’
The incoming dean of Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law says in a letter today that she has a duty and obligation as the school’s first black leader to speak out in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and protests that followed.
Hogsett pauses further Indianapolis curfews until Friday
Indianapolis will drop until Friday the overnight curfew that was imposed after a weekend of violence following protests over the death of George Floyd and police treatment of African Americans, the mayor’s office said Wednesday.
AP sources: White House softens on sending troops to states
After threatening states that he would dispatch the military to quell protests, President Donald Trump appeared to be privately backing off, with White House officials saying the response to demonstrations across the country indicated that local governments should be able to restore order themselves.
Former jailer charged with driving into Kokomo protest
A former correctional officer who drove into a Black Lives Matter protest faces a felony criminal recklessness charge, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Trump threatens military force against protesters nationwide
Wielding extraordinary federal authority, President Donald Trump threatened the nation’s governors on Monday that he would deploy the military to states if they did not stamp out violent protests over police brutality that have roiled the nation over the past week. His announcement came as police under federal command forced back peaceful demonstrators with tear gas so he could walk to a nearby church and pose with a Bible.
Carmel mayor does about-face, no longer plans to sue Minneapolis to recover security costs
Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard is abruptly suspending his plans to sue the city of Minneapolis for the cost of increased security to deal with protests and threats of violence, saying his actions have been misunderstood.
Indianapolis police, protesters march together; Hogsett extends curfew
Police and protesters negotiated a truce and walked together on Meridian Street on Monday night following a tense standoff that lasted about 30 minutes near the Governor’s Residence on Meridian Street.
Lawyers clean up, grapple with aftermath of weekend violence
Lawyers and law firms are assessing the damage and extending offers of aid after weekend protests turned violent in Indianapolis and other cities around the state. The protests and violent outbursts in Indiana and across the country were sparked by outrage over the death of George Floyd after a Minneapolis police office knelt on his neck.