High court amends appellate rules, rescinds June order
The Indiana Supreme Court has amended several rules of appellate procedure. The order comes after the high court rescinded an order amending appellate rules issued June 26.
Indiana Supreme Court
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AG Hill pledges support to ‘conservative principles’ after convention defeat
In the aftermath of a convention defeat that will keep him from serving a second term in office, Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is vowing to “continue to support and fight for our conservative principles.” Hill, however, did not explicitly endorse Republican AG nominee Todd Rokita.
Divided justices order new trial in wrongful death suit involving unwilling juror
Indiana Supreme Court justices on Thursday split in ordering a new trial in a wrongful death case involving an unwilling juror and a denied for-cause challenge.
Indianapolis family law attorney gets stayed suspension after disorderly conduct
An Indianapolis attorney who pled guilty to disorderly conduct arising from a domestic altercation at home has received a stayed suspension from the Indiana Supreme Court, causing a divide among the justices, two of whom favored an active suspension.
Fort Wayne lawyer who neglected multiple clients agrees to 180-day suspension
An Allen County lawyer who admitted to bilking multiple clients and neglecting their cases will be suspended from the practice of law for 180 days without automatic reinstatement, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled Thursday.
Crown Point, Chesterton attorneys get stayed suspensions for attorney misconduct
Two Northern Indiana attorneys have received stayed suspensions stemming from their individual attorney misconduct, the Indiana Supreme Court ordered on Thursday. Both attorneys acknowledged that they mismanaged trust accounts and commingled client funds.
Indiana Court Decisions – June 18-30, 2020
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the most recent reporting period.
Justices reduce meth dealing sentence in split opinion
A divided Indiana Supreme Court has sided with an appellate judge’s dissent in a drug dealing case, lowering a woman’s decades-long sentence pursuant to Appellate Rule 7(B).
About 250 lawyers face suspension over unmet dues, education requirements
More than 150 Indiana lawyers and nearly 100 out-of-state attorneys face suspension from the practice of law for unpaid dues, violations of Interest on Lawyer Trust Account rules or failure to comply with continuing legal education requirements.
Justices amend juror privacy, alternate dispute resolutions rules
The Indiana Supreme Court has issued orders amending rules of the court, some of which concern juror privacy and public access to juror questionnaires and discovery of certain insurance settlement information in mediations.
Supreme Court permits Lake County jury trial to start
A civil jury trial is underway in Lake County after the Indiana Supreme Court granted a request to hold a two-day trial starting Wednesday – the first in an Indiana trial court since the suspension of in-person court proceedings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
7th Circuit rejects convicted killer’s habeas petition over uncommunicated plea deal
A convicted killer lost his appeal in a federal habeas case in which he claimed he was entitled to relief from a 65-year prison sentence because his lawyer failed to convey a plea deal before he was convicted after a second trial.
Police-trainee’s blood-draw suppression in 2015 crash case reversed
A former police trainee accused of causing a drunken-driving crash on Interstate 465 five summers ago will go back to court with more evidence against him. The Indiana Supreme Court on Monday ruled that results of a blood draw after he refused a breath test were wrongly suppressed in Marion Superior Court.
Justices order new attempted murder trial after jury instruction ‘dilutes’ self-defense standard
The Indiana Supreme Court has ordered a new trial for a man convicted of attempted murder and handgun charges, finding an erroneous jury instruction diluted the standard for claiming self-defense.
Retiring COA Judge Baker certified as senior judge
Indiana’s longest-serving judge will continue hearing cases — at least part-time — after being certified as a senior judge last week. Indiana Court of Appeals Judge John G. Baker was certified a senior judge effective June 23, the date of an order signed Tuesday by Chief Justice Loretta Rush.
Justices to review murder verdict overturned due to lawyer’s lie on jury form
A Vanderburgh County jury’s guilty verdict in a murder case that was overturned on appeal because a lawyer who served as the jury forewoman lied on her jury questionnaire will be reviewed by the Indiana Supreme Court.
Justices grant expungement petition that led to change in law
Confusion over prolonged expungement wait times that Indiana’s longest-serving judge called “unjust” was settled Wednesday when the Indiana Supreme Court declared a new law that eliminated the confusion applies retroactively.
In 3-2 ruling, justices affirm car search in warrant for search of home
Indiana’s chief justice and most senior justice dissented Wednesday from a decision upholding the admission of evidence in a drug case collected from a vehicle that arrived at a Camby home at the same time police were inside the house executing a search warrant that was limited to the property. A justice who sided with the majority, however, said the split decision is evidence that key caselaw regarding law enforcement searches and seizures may need to be revisited.
Disciplinary Actions 06/24/20
Read who has been subject to Indiana Supreme Court discipline orders in the most recent reporting period.
Indiana Court Decisions – June 4–17, 2020
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the most recent reporting period.