Input sought on proposed changes
The Indiana Supreme Court Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure is seeking comment through June 20 on several proposed
rule changes.
Indiana Supreme Court
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ICLEO initiative gets national attention from rising fellows
When he was named to the Madison Circuit bench late last year, Judge Rudolph “Rudy” Pyle III made history in that he became not only the county’s first African-American jurist but also the first Indiana Conference for Legal Education Opportunities graduate to be elevated to the state’s judiciary at that level.
Supreme Court awards grants for family projects
Fifteen projects in 18 Indiana counties are receiving grants from the Indiana Supreme Court aimed at family court projects, including Madison and Parke counties that are the newest to joint the effort that’s been in place since 1999.
Justices’ transfer action posted online weekly
In order to increase efficiency and reduce administrative redundancies at the appellate clerk’s office, attorneys and law firms will no longer receive weekly e-mails about cases the Indiana Supreme Court has agreed to consider.
Justices rule on plea negotiation communications
The Indiana Supreme Court has addressed the scope of privilege for plea negotiations for the first time in 20 years, upholding the conviction and sentence of a man who drove his pickup truck into an Evansville school bus while intoxicated and injured more than a dozen children.
Indiana justices answer certified question from federal court
The Indiana Supreme Court says that a person or business that buys and later sells a wrecked vehicle must apply for a salvage
title as required by state law, even if that vehicle’s been sold by the time that certificate is received.
Grant funding available for state court reforms
State trial courts have until June 15 to apply for grants that would allow them to reform or improve their local judicial
systems.
COA affirms resisting police conviction
The Indiana Court of Appeals was hesitant to rely on an Indiana Supreme Court case’s definition of “forcibly
resist” because that language doesn’t appear to adequately describe the meaning of the phrase as it has been recently
applied.
No opinions for 3rd day in a row
The Indiana Court of Appeals has not had any published or unpublished opinions posted online since May 6.
Attorney reprimanded for response to harassing calls
The Indiana Supreme Court has publicly reprimanded an Indianapolis attorney who responded to harassing phone calls and pre-recorded
messages to her unlisted phone number by asking a company representative if he was “gay” or “sweet.”
Disciplinary attorneys: Judge experience a bonus
Having a trial court judge as the executive leader of the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission is a new approach
for the state, but those intimately involved with attorney disciplinary matters say it could prove to be a positive change.
Court names special judge for Marion County case
A Shelby Superior judge will preside over a forgery investigation case involving Marion County GOP Chairman Tom John, after
the presiding judge in the state’s largest county recused himself from the matter.
Indiana’s chief justice receives award for diversity efforts
The National Black Law Students Association has honored Indiana Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard for his trailblazing work
in diversifying the legal community, largely with the creation of the Indiana Conference for Legal Education Opportunity
Justices rule on legal malpractice procedural issue
An Indiana Supreme Court decision allows an Indianapolis attorney and a local law firm to raise a statute of limitations on
legal malpractice claims against them.
Justices approve ‘double enhancement’
The Indiana Supreme Court affirmed the use of the same prior conviction to both elevate a defendant’s charge to a felony
and find him a habitual substance offender because of explicit legislative direction on the enhancements.
Comments sought on proposed rule changes
The Indiana Supreme Court Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure is seeking comment on several proposed rule changes.
Justices differ on reasonableness of GAL fees
If two parties in a domestic relations dispute sign a written contract to retain the services of a guardian ad litem, then
the trial court must enforce the terms of the agreement unless it is contrary to public policy, the Indiana Supreme Court
ruled Friday.
Benton, Carroll counties on Odyssey
The courts in Benton and Carroll counties have joined nearly 50 other courts in the state using the Indiana Supreme Court
Odyssey Case Management System. The courts and clerk’s offices in those counties went online Friday.
High court grants 3 transfers
The Indiana Supreme Court granted transfer Thursday to three cases involving a murder conviction, a request for post-conviction
relief, and the appointment of counsel for a mother involved in a termination proceeding.
Justices rule on sentence modification
A conviction of a Class D felony that is later reduced to a Class A misdemeanor doesn’t prevent a trial court from
modifying a sentence below the statutory minimum, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled today in a matter of first impression.