Two lawyers suspended for non-cooperation with discipline investigations
Two Hoosier lawyers have been indefinitely suspended from the practice of law for failure to cooperate with investigations of ethics grievances against them.
Indiana Supreme Court
Articles
Bill removing lawyers from Lake, St. Joseph judicial panels draws more fire
Efforts to amend a bill that would fundamentally change the composition of the judicial nominating commissions in Lake and St. Joseph counties failed in the Indiana House on Tuesday, setting up the controversial legislation for a possible final House vote next week.
Justices accepting disciplinary commission applications as Witte gets senior judge status
The Indiana Supreme Court is now accepting applications for a new disciplinary commission executive director as the current director prepares to retire and take senior judge status.
Justices name senior judge as interim disciplinary commission leader
An Indiana senior judge has been named to lead the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission on an interim basis, temporarily replacing executive director G. Michael Witte, who is retiring Friday.
7th Circuit certifies 2 med-mal questions to Indiana Supreme Court
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has certified two questions to Indiana’s Supreme Court justices in a Wednesday opinion, asking for clarification in a Medical Malpractice Act dispute.
Divided 7th Circuit reverses, lets Jackson County Courthouse Nativity stand
Lifting an injunction issued by a federal court, a divided panel of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday ruled that a Nativity scene on the grounds of the Jackson County Courthouse in Brownstown is not unconstitutional under a 2019 case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Ex-Johnson County Prosecutor Cooper gets 4-year suspension
The former Johnson County prosecutor who was convicted of assaulting his former girlfriend and attempting to cover up his crime was suspended from the practice of law for four years Wednesday without automatic reinstatement.
Calling it a career: Lawyer ethics director Witte retiring
After 39 years, G. Michael Witte, executive director of the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission, is calling it a career — sort of.
Conversations on race draw on power of candid talks
To capitalize on the talks that started during 2020, attorney Angka Hinshaw is joining Indiana Justice Steven David to lead a yearlong discussion about racial issues and cultural differences. The goal of the program, Open Conversations, is to foster honest, perhaps uncomfortable, dialogue where the participants can gain new insight and understanding.
The next step: Civil forfeiture reform efforts continue in Indiana
Civil forfeiture is back before the judicial and the legislative branches of Indiana government. A Senate bill would implement forfeiture reforms that practitioners say have long been necessary, while a case scheduled to go before the Indiana Supreme Court this month for the third time could further refine how trial courts consider whether a forfeiture is lawful.
Indiana Court Decisions – Jan. 14-27, 2021
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the most recent reporting period.
Bill to alter Lake, St. Joseph judicial selection rankles local bench, bar
Legal professionals in Lake and St. Joseph counties are raising serious concerns about advancing legislation that would change the structure of the local judicial nominating commissions that shape the state trial court judiciary in the northern Indiana counties.
Justices in tug-of-war over judge in suit accusing ex-lawyer of estate theft
Nearly eight months after the Indiana Supreme Court accepted the resignation of a one-time northern Indiana judge and former lawyer accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from a widow client’s estate, justices now are being asked to remove the judge hearing a related civil lawsuit.
Justices uphold life without parole in toddler’s brutalization, murder
A man’s sentence to life in prison without parole in the murder of an 18-month-old whose body bore the marks of torture and sexual abuse has been affirmed on direct appeal to the Indiana Supreme Court.
ISBA fights legislation to end retention votes, ‘politicize’ appellate bench
A measure that would strip Hoosier voters of the power to retain appellate judges and Supreme Court justices — transferring that authority to the Legislature — has drawn fire from the Indiana State Bar Association, which warned the proposal would politicize the appellate bench and threaten the independence of the judiciary.
Justices rule for company in dispute with ex-officer over share value
A dispute over the valuation of shares has been resolved in favor of a company after the Indiana Supreme Court upheld the discounts that were applied to the valuation. The former company partner who sued previously won a Court of Appeals ruling that increased the value of his shares by more than $1 million.
Supreme Court adopts COA ruling, remands to correct improper sentence
The Indiana Supreme Court on Tuesday summarily affirmed a Court of Appeals decision remanding an improper sentence imposed in a drug case but rejected a convict’s argument that he was wrongly denied his request for a speedy trial.
Supreme Court creates rule for appointing commercial court judges
As Indiana’s commercial court program expands, the Indiana Supreme Court is implementing new rules to govern the appointment of judges to the specialized dockets.
Supreme Court clears Barnes attorney Mackey in discipline case
The Indiana Supreme Court has cleared a well-known attorney and former federal prosecutor of misconduct charges stemming from a nearly decade-old matter. The court found Thursday “that the allegations of misconduct were not proven” in a one-page judgment in favor of Barnes & Thornburg partner Larry Mackey.
Appeals court lets stand contested court order for I-69 land
A Morgan County couple lost their challenge of a court order appropriating land in which they had an easement interest for the construction of the new final leg of Interstate 69.