Committee endorses new Hamilton County court, magistrates for 3 counties
Four Indiana counties are one step closer to adding judicial officers or a new court after winning the approval of a legislative committee.
Hamilton County
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Indiana commercial courts branching out
Indiana’s commercial court docket is expanding for the first time, with four new venues opening in 2021. Hamilton, Madison, St. Joseph and Vigo counties will join Allen, Elkhart, Floyd, Lake, Marion and Vanderburgh counties in offering the specialized business dockets.
Huntington Co. prosecutor to lead prosecutors’ association in 2021
Huntington County Prosecutor Amy Richison will serve as president of the Association of Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Inc. in 2021, the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council has announced.
Justices reverse custody order after judge ‘conflated’ contempt with best interests
A mother has regained legal custody of her child for now after the Indiana Supreme Court reversed a trial court order Friday, finding that a lower court judge improperly “coupled” a finding of contempt against the mother with an analysis into the child’s best interests.
Negligence suit against Carmel assisted living facility reinstated on appeal
A negligence suit against a Carmel assisted living facility in which a resident was seriously injured when a buffet table fell, knocking her to the ground, was reinstated after a Hamilton County court ruled in favor of the assisted living facility.
COA reversal awards Carmel pizzeria owner $197K, potential treble damages
A panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals has reversed a judgment against a Hamilton County pizzeria company’s owner after finding the trial court erred in concluding that he failed to establish money damages for his partners’ acts of forgery and counterfeiting related to the business, among other things, awarding more than $197,000 in damages and over $21,000 in legal fees.
COA reverses for couple, against Noblesville in adverse possession dispute
The Indiana Court of Appeals has reversed in favor of two longtime Noblesville residents who exercised control over an abandoned railroad right of way for decades, finding the residents reasonably believed they were paying taxes on the right of way during a period of adverse possession.
Judge convicted after meth sting barred from bench, suspended
A Hamilton County judge who purchased meth from an informant in a sting operation then bit the thumb of an officer who tried to stop the jurist from swallowing the evidence has been barred from holding judicial office but may continue to conditionally practice law after a 90-day suspension.
Indiana commercial courts expanding to 4 more counties
The Indiana judiciary is expanding its roster of commercial courts, adding four more counties to the program that started in 2016. The Indiana Supreme Court announced the new venues handling the specialized dockets Monday.
Republicans select ex-Marion County chair to replace Merritt at Statehouse
Former Marion County Republican Party Chairman Kyle Walker was elected by caucus Sunday to replace retiring state Sen. Jim Merritt. The veteran Indianapolis lawmaker announced his pending departure from the Statehouse earlier this year.
Down to business: Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence legal team helps survivor untangle from financial mess
A pro bono team of lawyers helped a grateful domestic violence survivor get untangled from a business her ex-husband had set up in her name that left her facing substantial financial obligations.
Indiana COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations surge to another high
The Indiana State Department of Health on Thursday reported a record number of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations for the second day in a row.
Republicans projected to hold or build on General Assembly supermajorities
Republicans in the Indiana House and Senate will retain or build on their supermajorities in both houses of the state Legislature, according to projections of unofficial statewide election results.
Spartz defeats Hale as Indiana House delegation remains split 7-2 favoring GOP
Outgoing Republican Rep. Susan Brooks on Tuesday night appeared alongside fellow Republican Victoria Spartz at her campaign event in Carmel and declared Spartz the winner in the hard-fought race against Democrat Christina Hale to succeed Brooks in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District. Hale, however, declined to concede Tuesday night.
Top political analyst changes outlook for 5th District race to ‘tilt Democrat’
A major political analyst has changed the outlook for Indiana’s 5th Congressional District from toss-up to “tilt Democrat.” Inside Elections made the rating change this week for the tight race between Republican state Sen. Victoria Spartz and former Democratic state lawmaker Christina Hale.
New in power, Indiana House leader faces tough election race
Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston is trying to hold onto his suburban Indianapolis district that’s shifted away from reliably Republican as he faces his first election since March, when he took over the powerful position that controls much of the General Assembly’s action.
A Hamilton County community champion: Legendary Lawyer Douglas Church
In a career that has spanned 50 years, Douglas Church not only developed his own private practice but also played an integral role in the blossoming of Hamilton County. He served as attorney for the town of Fishers from 1980 through 2015 and for the city of Noblesville from 1988 through 1996, helping those communities formulate and implement strategies for growth.
Stafford: Institutional racism and judicial merit selection in Indiana
I’m by no means the first to suggest that merit selection systems may produce biased results, and people far smarter than me make compelling arguments both ways. But as applied in Indiana, it’s hard to argue this is not a biased system, especially in Marion County.
Indiana reports 2,519 more COVID-19 cases, another rise in hospitalizations
The Indiana State Department of Health on Friday reported 2,519 new COVID-19 cases, the third-highest number reported so far in the daily report. The seven-day average of daily cases reached the highest point since the pandemic began.
Noblesville residents protest against proposed gravel pit
Demonstrators against a proposed 40-acre gravel pit in central Indiana gathered outside City Hall to protest the project, claiming it would increase truck traffic, noise and pollution.