Indiana Court Decisions: Jan. 12-25, 2023
Read Indiana appellate court decisions for the most recent reporting period.
Indiana Supreme Court
Articles
Indiana justices won’t hear 2nd abortion case for now
Indiana’s high court said it will not immediately consider a challenge to the state’s abortion ban that is based on the argument that the law violates some people’s religious freedoms, leaving that decision to the Court of Appeals of Indiana, at least for now.
Colorado baker loses appeal over transgender birthday cake
The Colorado baker who won a partial U.S. Supreme Court victory after refusing to make a gay couple’s wedding cake because of his Christian faith lost an appeal Thursday in his latest legal fight, involving his rejection of a request for a birthday cake celebrating a gender transition.
Amendments to administrative, public access rules proposed
The Indiana Supreme Court is seeking public comment on amendments to rules governing judges, senior judges and prosecutors as well as a proposed amendment to public access rules.
IN justices to review child molesting, property damage cases
The Indiana Supreme Court has agreed to review a “he said, she said” child molestation case that presented an issue of first impression and a dispute between a town government and two residents whose property was flooded.
Near-total abortion ban goes before IN justices for procedural, constitutional questions
Little more than six months after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Indiana’s high court heard arguments Thursday in the case challenging the near-total abortion ban enacted in the state after the federal justices ended the federal right to an abortion.
Indiana Court Decisions: Dec. 29, 2022-Jan. 11, 2023
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the most recent reporting period.
State of the Judiciary highlights role of courts in state’s prosperity: CJ Rush describes the courts as ‘engines of change’
Giving her ninth State of the Judiciary Address on Jan. 11 at the Indiana Statehouse during a joint session of the Indiana General Assembly, Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush recalled her childhood and compared Indiana’s courts to a locomotive’s engine.
Disciplinary Actions: Oct. 1-Dec. 31, 2022
Read a summary of disciplinary actions handed down by the Indiana Supreme Court during the fourth quarter of 2022.
The art of persuasion: Hoosier attorneys support rule change regarding memorandum decisions
The relatively few words tacked onto the end of Indiana Rule of Appellate Procedure 65(D) were the result of nearly a decade’s worth of effort by Hoosier lawyers.
Indiana justices set to hear first challenge to state’s new abortion law
The Hoosier State’s new abortion law, passed weeks after Roe v. Wade was struck down last summer, will go before the Indiana Supreme Court Thursday, becoming one of the first near-total abortion bans in the country to face scrutiny from a state’s justices.
Indy lawyer disciplined for professional conduct violations
An Indianapolis attorney who failed to provide competent representation and communication to one of his clients has been suspended from practicing law in Indiana for 60 days, all stayed subject to his completion of at least one year of probation with JLAP monitoring.
IN justices uphold murder conviction, LWOP sentence after finding child’s behavior did not provoke ‘sudden heat’
The Indiana Supreme Court has affirmed the murder conviction and life without parole sentence of a Grant County woman, finding the child victim’s behavior did not cause adequate provocation to support the defendant’s claim she acted in “sudden heat.”
State of the Judiciary address highlights role of state courts in Indiana’s prosperity
Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush gave a formal update on the work of the judicial branch during the 2023 State of the Judiciary address on Wednesday at the Indiana Statehouse.
COA reverses for widow in wrongful death case
The Court of Appeals of Indiana has reversed for a widow who was denied a motion to substitute real party in interest in a wrongful death case, concluding her filing was timely as tolled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rush to give 9th State of the Judiciary address Wednesday
Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush is set to give the annual State of the Judiciary address to members of the General Assembly on Wednesday.
Justices grant transfer to clarify that Trial Rules, Marion Co. local rule ‘work in harmony’
Granting transfer to clarify a procedural question, the Indiana Supreme Court has determined that a Marion County local rule regarding dispositive motions doesn’t conflict with the Indiana Trial Rules.
Indiana lawmakers say they’re unlikely to pass new abortion legislation in 2023
Indiana’s top Republican lawmakers say they’re holding off on new abortion legislation in the 2023 legislative session — at least for now. But the future is less clear on tangential issues of mail-order abortion pills and contraception.
IN Supreme Court increases senior judge service days baseline for 2023
The Indiana Supreme Court has raised the baseline for senior judge service days in 2023 to 20 — a five-day increase compared to the previous year.
Justices reinstate Vectren’s ‘instantaneous netting’ method for crediting excess energy production
The Indiana Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Vectren energy, finding it followed state law when it changed its method of determining the credit its customers receive when producing excess solar and wind energy.