Indiana Attorney General - The Indiana Lawyer

7th Circuit affirms restrictions on absentee voting; judge stays injunction in noon deadline case

October 7, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

The effort to allow all Hoosiers to vote by absentee ballot in the November presidential election has been blocked by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals which, in an echo of the state’s argument, found Election Day is too close to make any changes now. In a separate case, a judge temporarily stayed pending appeal an order blocking an Indiana law that requires absentee ballots be received by noon to be counted.

AG candidate profile: Weinzapfel says attorney general should be about policy, not politics

October 6, 2020 | Lindsey Erdody, Indianapolis Business Journal

Democratic former Evansville Mayor and lawmaker Jonathan Weinzapfel said if elected attorney general, his actions would be based on policy, not politics, and Hoosiers’ best interests. Read Weinzapfel’s recent Q&A with Indiana Lawyer’s sibling publication, the Indianapolis Business Journal.

AG candidate profile: Rokita says he’ll be an ‘aggressive’ attorney general

October 6, 2020 | Lindsey Erdody, Indianapolis Business Journal

Republican former Congressman and Secretary of State Todd Rokita vows to continue a conservative approach but would emphasize partnerships if elected attorney general. Read what Rokita had to say in a recent Q&A with Indiana Lawyer’s sibling publication, the Indianapolis Business Journal.

AG Hill appeals ruling blocking noon Election Day absentee receipt law

October 5, 2020 | Dave Stafford

Attorney General Curtis Hill’s office is appealing a judge’s ruling that absentee ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 must be counted. Meanwhile, the state acknowledged in its filing that election officials are taking steps to count those ballots if the judge’s order stands.

Indiana attorney general may face bill over discipline case

October 5, 2020 | Associated Press

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.

Mail-in voting advocates alert 7th Circuit to dispute with state’s argument

October 2, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

Plaintiffs in Indiana’s vote by mail case are questioning the state’s assertion made this week in oral arguments to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that Hoosiers can request a special exemption from the Indiana Election Commission to cast an absentee ballot if they do not meet one of the law’s categories of who may vote by mail.

Charlestown zoo owner still at large as state moves for default judgment, dissolution

October 1, 2020 | Olivia Covington

As the search for animals missing from an embattled Charlestown zoo continues, the state of Indiana is seeking default judgment and judicial dissolution that would formally end Wildlife in Need’s operations. Meanwhile, zoo owner Tim Stark remains at large following an arrest warrant issued in Marion County, as well as an additional warrant in Clark County.

Challenges to Indiana voting laws pile up in 7th Circuit, which will livestream one today

September 30, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

Indiana’s prohibition against no-excuse absentee voting goes before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday afternoon, with the plaintiffs trying to convince the appellate panel to reverse the district judge’s ruling and allow all registered Hoosier voters to cast their ballots by mail in the Nov. 3 presidential election. The federal appeals court will livestream oral arguments in the case.

State opposes ‘last minute change’ to polling hours law

September 29, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

The state of Indiana is trying to stop a federal judge’s ruling that would allow Hoosier voters themselves to go to state court and file for an extension of polling hours if problems arise with balloting on Election Day.

Kentucky AG agrees to release grand jury tapes in Breonna Taylor case

September 29, 2020 | Associated Press and IL Staff

Kentucky’s attorney general has agreed to release the recordings of the secret grand jury proceeding that considered charges against three officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor.

Suit: Challenged law may invalidate tens of thousands of Indiana mail-in ballots

September 24, 2020 | Dave Stafford

An estimated 10,000 Hoosiers’ mail-in absentee ballots were rejected as “late” during Indiana’s 2020 primary election under a disputed Indiana law, suggesting multiple times more ballots may be thrown out in the Nov. 3 general election, groups challenging the law in federal court contend.

Suit seeks $3M in damages over alleged wrongful DCS actions

September 23, 2020 | Dave Stafford

Indianapolis parents who claim the Indiana Department of Child Services wrongly removed their children from the home over allegedly false accusations of sexual abuse have filed a federal lawsuit against the agency seeking $3 million in damages.

PETA: 22 big cats taken from Charlestown zoo; all animals out

September 18, 2020 | IL Staff

An animal advocacy organization said Friday afternoon it had assisted in the removal of 22 big cats, completing an animal-removal operation from a now-defunct Charlestown zoo. The removal came with the assistance of federal marshals after the zoo’s fugitive owner had made threats of violence and defied court orders.

Indiana vote-by-mail appeal brief warns of ‘confusing and chaotic’ election scenario

September 17, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

Plaintiffs in the battle to expand no-excuse absentee voting in Indiana before the Nov. 3 general election filed their reply brief Wednesday, arguing the state’s suggestion of requiring all Hoosiers to vote in-person, regardless of age, would create a “more confusing and chaotic outcome.”

Charlestown zoo owner at large after contempt arrest warrant

September 17, 2020 | Olivia Covington

The embattled owner of a Charlestown zoo who has made headlines for defying court orders to turn over animals remained at large Thursday afternoon, a day after an Indianapolis judge issued a warrant for his arrest.

Indiana joins kickbacks settlement involving company’s hemophilia products

September 17, 2020 | IL Staff

Indiana has joined several states and the federal government to reach an agreement with National Cornerstone Health Services to settle allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act.

Rokita wins Indiana State Police Alliance endorsement

September 17, 2020 | IL Staff

Former congressman Todd Rokita has earned the endorsement of the Indiana State Police Alliance in his bid to become the next Indiana Attorney General.

Former ITT students in Indiana to get $10M in debt relief

September 16, 2020 | Associated Press

More than 1,000 students who were enrolled at now-closed ITT Technical Institute campuses in Indiana are eligible for nearly $10 million in student loan forgiveness, the state’s attorney general announced Tuesday.

Indianapolis corporation counsel leaves administration for private sector gig

September 16, 2020 | Samm Quinn, Indianapolis Business Journal

Anne Mullin O’Connor will become corporation counsel for the city of Indianapolis at the end of the month, replacing Donald Morgan, who has worked for the city since 2016, Mayor Joe Hogsett announced Wednesday.

State: Zoo owner illegally removes animals, incites violence in racist post

September 15, 2020 | Olivia Covington

The feud between the state of Indiana and the owner of a rogue Charlestown zoo is heating up, with the state now seeking default judgment and the court ordering the owner to reveal the locations of animals illegally removed from the Charlestown property. The state says the zoo owner responded with social media posts inciting violence and using racist slurs.

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