Indiana Court decisions – April 12-25, 2018
Read Indiana appellate decisions from the most recent reporting period.
Indiana Supreme Court
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Internal, external process changes increase Tax Court efficiency, slash case filings
At the end of 2016, there were 101 cases still pending before the Indiana Tax Court, the lowest number pending on Dec. 31 since Judge Martha Wentworth ascended to the bench in 2011. But by the end of 2017, that number had fallen to just 17 pending cases — an 83 percent decrease.
Landis, longtime head of Public Defender Council, to retire in July
Despite working on Indiana public defense reforms for 41 years, there are still goals Larry Landis wishes he could have accomplished before his impending retirement from the Indiana Public Defender Council. In a perfect world, Landis said his career would have led to more judicial sentencing discretion, a greater focus on mental health treatment, and a justice system that values restoration over punishment.
JNC completes first day of Court of Appeals interviews
The first of two days of interviews to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Indiana Court of Appeals is complete after the Indiana Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission spoke with three more applicants Monday afternoon.
Justices: PCR not available to sex offender barred from son’s school
A Howard County father is currently unable to attend his son’s school activities after the Indiana Supreme Court denied his bid for post-conviction relief from a law that bars serious sex offenders from entering school property. However, the court also pointed the father to a possible alternative that could provide the relief he seeks.
Justices order nonlawyer to stop family law services
An Indianapolis woman who is not a licensed attorney but has consistently provided legal assistance to Indiana residents with child support and parenting time issues has been enjoined from continuing in her unauthorized practice of law.
Divided justices deny transfer to reversed adoption
Despite having already granted the adoption petition, the Vanderburgh Superior Court must revisit an adoption case after the Indiana Supreme Court denied transfer to a Court of Appeals opinion that found an error in the trial court’s decision.
Justices issue 3 suspension orders for noncooperating lawyers
The Indiana Supreme Court issued three orders Tuesday suspending or extending the suspensions of three lawyers found to be noncooperative with the Disciplinary Commission’s investigation of grievances against them.
Attorney who neglected clients, inflated experience suspended
A Greenwood attorney who neglected clients and made false claims of his legal experience and expertise has been suspended from the practice of law for at least 18 months.
Indiana Department of Child Services goes $284M over budget
The Indiana Department of Child Services has gone over budget by $284 million with two months left in this fiscal year.
Lawyer who offered client phony settlement suspended
An Indianapolis attorney who falsely told her client that a $40,000 settlement offer had been made by a party she hadn’t even sued has been suspended from the practice of law.
Deputy prosecutor gets reprimand for drunk driving
A Johnson County deputy prosecutor has been given a public reprimand for his conviction of misdemeanor drunken driving.
Supreme Court hears insanity argument in shooting death of pastor
The May 2012 shooting of the Bethel Community Church pastor left the Southport community shaken. Admitted killer Lori Barcroft was twice found guilty but mentally ill in the shooting death of Jaman Iseminger, but as it stands now, she is not guilty by reason of insanity after a second Indiana Court of Appeals reversal.
Justices to weigh how right to publicity affects fantasy sports
The Indiana Supreme Court has agreed to consider how Indiana’s right-to-publicity statute affects the fantasy sports industry in order to provide guidance to a fantasy football case pending in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
IU frat sex assault case proceeds; questions certified to justices
The Indiana Southern District Court has partially denied summary judgment to an Indiana University fraternity implicated in a campus sexual assault after finding “open issues” in the applicability of Indiana Supreme Court precedent concerning foreseeability in the context of duty.
Supreme Court CAO Willis resigns
Indiana Supreme Court Chief Administrative Officer Mary Willis has resigned from her position and is no longer working for the Supreme Court, the court announced Thursday. Jane Seigel, current and soon-to-retire executive director of the Indiana Office of Court Services, will serve as interim CAO.
Lawyers for man charged in 4 killings end legal challenge to counsel’s removal
Attorneys for a Fort Wayne man charged in four killings have ended their challenge to a judge’s removal of a defense attorney from the case.
Indiana Court Decisions — March 29-April 11, 2018
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the most recent reporting period.
Attorneys object to proposed rule making cellphone numbers public
Feedback on a proposal that attorneys disclose their cellphone numbers when filing appearances has been overwhelmingly negative. Indiana Supreme Court officials say they are committed to taking the attorney feedback seriously, and lawyers are clinging to that promise in the hopes of avoiding what they see as a violation of privacy.
Pro bono push: State, federal court see upturns in volunteering attorneys
While the need among unrepresented litigants continues to grow, state and federal courts in Indiana say recent efforts to encourage more pro bono service among attorneys are showing results.