6 counties seeking additional magistrates, judges, courts
The Indiana House Courts and Criminal Code Committee gave unanimous approval Wednesday to a bill that would allow for the creation of new courts or judicial positions in six counties.
House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code
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Indiana House announces 2023 committee chairs
Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston on Friday released the list of Republican chairs leading the chamber’s committees for 2023, including a few newly appointed members following a slew of representative retirements last year.
COA affirms $245K judgment against brother in family farm dispute
An order for a brother to pay nearly $245,000, including more than $100,000 in attorney fees, in a dispute with his siblings over a breach of their mother’s revocable trust was affirmed Friday by the Indiana Court of Appeals.
Misdemeanor conviction vacated for man in fatal three-car crash
A man who fled the scene of a three-vehicle crash that killed three people and seriously injured two others has had one of his reckless driving convictions vacated on double jeopardy grounds, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.
Expungement wait-time case sparks confusion during oral argument
Questions about whether minor felonies reduced to misdemeanor convictions should trigger new five-year waiting periods for people seeking a criminal expungement caused confusion Thursday among some members of the Indiana Supreme Court.
Bill raising small claims filing limit to $8K advances to full House
Plaintiffs litigating on the small claims docket in any Indiana county could soon file claims for up to $8,000 if a bill that advanced out of a House committee Wednesday makes it to the governor’s desk. The bill also would expand the authority of magistrate judges.
House panel OKs new Howard, Vanderburgh magistrate judges
Two counties seeking funding for additional magistrate judges from the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee got their wish Wednesday when the panel advanced the legislation to the House floor.
Indiana Forward campaign rallies for hate crimes law
As they did in January 2018, supporters of hate crimes legislation rallied Tuesday in the Indiana Statehouse to again push lawmakers to add a bias-motivated crime statute to the Indiana law books. Advocates from a broad array of groups, including business, education, nonprofits and faith-based organizations, were on-hand to applaud and cheer as legislators and community leaders called for Indiana to join the 45 other states with hate crimes law.
Latest hate crimes proposal leaves out specific protected classes
In an effort to remove Indiana from a list of five states without hate crimes legislation, lawmakers have filed three separate bills so far in the Indiana General Assembly, but the latest measure does not specify the classes of individuals and groups who would be protected.
Synthetic drug ban, human trafficking bills move out of committee
Senate bills stiffening the state’s synthetic drug ban and strengthening Indiana’s human trafficking laws were approved unanimously by the House of Representatives Committee on Courts and Criminal Code Wednesday.
Criminal code study group meets Friday
The Criminal Code Evaluation Commission will have its fifth meeting Friday. According to the meeting agenda, Rep. Ralph Foley, R-Martinsville, will give a presentation on unspecified data and Deborah Daniels will give a presentation on penalties for sex offenders.
Commission on Courts to discuss JTAC, new judges
At its first meeting Wednesday, the Commission on Courts will hear updates on Judicial Technology and Automation Committee projects as well as requests for new judges.
Mandatory retirement, unified court bills still alive
The bill that would end a mandatory retirement age for certain judges and the bill that would unify Clark County courts are ready for third reading in their respective houses.
JTAC fee, Clark County courts bills before committees
A bill that would increase the automated record-keeping fee to pay for implementation of a statewide case-management system and a bill that proposes to create a unified Circuit Court in Clark County are just two of the bills before committees this week in the Indiana General Assembly.
ALJ, problem-solving courts bills moving
A House bill dealing with problem-solving courts and a Senate bill that involves administrative proceedings and administrative law judge disqualifications have made it out of their respective judiciary committees.