Feedback sought on proposed amendments to Indiana Rules of Court
The Indiana Supreme Court is seeking feedback on proposed amendments to the Indiana rules for alternative dispute resolution, appellate procedure, small claims and trial procedure.
Indiana Supreme Court
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Indiana Supreme Court official Dolan honored by national organization
Indiana Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathryn Dolan has been selected to receive the National Center for State Courts’ Distinguished Service Award.
As in-person trials resume, Marion County courts struggle to get enough jurors to respond to summonses
Following a “drastic” move by the Indiana Supreme Court suspending in-person jury trials from mid-December to March 1, courts across Indiana are attempting to resume the hallmark proceedings of the American judicial system. But in Marion County, finding enough jurors to hold those proceedings has proven difficult.
Justices: Juvenile convicted of attempted murder failed to show parent ‘essential’
When juvenile defendants are tried in adult court, parents who are also witnesses may be excluded from witness-separation orders if their children establish them as “essential” to the presentation of evidence, the Indiana Supreme Court has ruled. However, applying that holding to the facts of the case before them, justices concluded an Elkhart County teen failed to establish his mom was “essential” to his attempted murder defense.
Justices agree to hear appeal in Menards negligence dispute
A ruling from the Indiana Court of Appeals that partially entered judgment in favor of a Menards store in a customer’s personal injury suit will go before the Indiana Supreme Court after the justices granted transfer to the case last week.
Lake, St. Joseph judicial selection bill set for hearing Wednesday
Legislation that has drawn fire from bar associations and members of the legal community who say proposed changes to judicial appointments would politicize the trial court benches in Lake and St. Joseph counties will be heard Wednesday by a Senate committee.
Justices decline to shield COVID-19 stimulus checks from creditors
The Indiana Supreme Court has denied a petition from several legal aid providers and social service organizations asking the justices to protect the latest round of stimulus checks from being scooped up by debt collectors.
Justices give Indianapolis lawyer probation for account mismanagement
An Indianapolis attorney and real estate broker whose overdrafts of his attorney trust accounts triggered a disciplinary commission investigation received a suspended suspension Thursday subject to at least one year of probation with accountant monitoring.
Justices remand insurance dispute over ransomware attack coverage
Neither an insurer nor a claimant was entitled to summary judgment in a dispute over coverage of a ransomware attack, the Indiana Supreme Court has ruled, sending the case back to the trial court.
Justices suspend 2 lawyers for repeat OWI convictions
An attorney from Carmel and one from Connersville have been suspended from the practice of law as a result of convictions for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. The lawyers in both cases had prior convictions.
Justices uphold ruling for IPS in negligence claim but not COA reasoning
The Indiana Supreme Court has upheld judgment for Indianapolis Public Schools in a negligence case brought by a student’s parents in a dual-credits dispute, noting that it was affirming the ruling from the Indiana Court of Appeals despite an error in reasoning.
Justices affirm sentence but stress clarity in guilty-plea appeal waivers
Although it upheld a man’s six-year executed sentence for drug convictions, the Indiana Supreme Court issued a per curiam opinion reminding trial court about the importance of clarity during guilty-plea sentencing hearings that involve a waiver of a defendant’s right to appeal.
Letter to the editor: Proposed changes to merit selection may prove judicious
Your publication recently printed an article discussing the Indiana State Bar Association’s objections to Indiana Senate Joint Resolution 16. The bar association’s complaint about SJR 16, and the slant of the article, is that the resolution proposes to “strip” Hoosier voters of the power to retain Indiana appellate court judges and Supreme Court justices. I do not believe that complaint is well-founded.
IndyBar: Leadership Series to Launch at Bench Bar Conference: Apply Now
Are you anxious to reconnect with your community? Are you looking for opportunities to contribute to Indy’s growth? Ready to network with community leaders and your peers? The IndyBar’s reimagined Bar Leader Series could be your answer and is now accepting applications for Class XVIII.
DOC secrets remain after justices rule for disclosure
Despite a ruling in her favor from the Indiana Supreme Court capping her years-long quest to find out how the state of Indiana might carry out an execution, Washington, D.C., attorney Katherine Toomey was still waiting for answers two weeks later.
Indiana Court Decisions – Feb. 25-March 10, 2021
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the most recent reporting period.
Smith: Your old noncompete form agreement may miss the mark
Cases over the past two decades have eroded the enforceability of certain noncompete agreement terms (aka restrictive covenants). Thus, a standard form noncompete agreement drafted in the 1990s may not withstand a court challenge if used today.
Web Exclusive: Supreme Court in no hurry to find new attorney ethics director
With the search underway for only the third director of the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission, one thing seems certain: The court will take its time finding a successor for retired leader G. Michael Witte.
Indiana Supreme Court again asked to protect stimulus checks
A collection of Indiana agencies, including several legal aid providers, are asking the Indiana Supreme Court to help low-income Hoosiers by again blocking creditors from taking their new round stimulus payments that are being issued as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Citing recent precedent, justices vacate dangerous possession adjudication
A juvenile adjudication of dangerous possession of a firearm has been vacated by the Indiana Supreme Court in light of its opinion last year that juvenile courts lack jurisdiction to adjudicate the offense.