Justices approve 2020 jury pool master list
Indiana Supreme Court justices have approved the 2020 master list for jury pool assembly, reminding courts not to seek data from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
Indiana Supreme Court
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Chief Justice Rush delves into judiciary’s annual report
Situated at the head of a table in the Indiana Supreme Court’s law library, Chief Justice Loretta Rush shared her thoughts Wednesday on the judiciary’s recently released annual report.
City ‘full speed ahead’ on Oaktree apartments demolition
Indianapolis officials said Wednesday they expect to move forward with demolishing a blighted northeast-side apartment complex, after the owner of the property failed to request a last-ditch hearing by the state’s high court.
Blickman testifies in his discipline hearing linked to Park Tudor scandal
The attorney disciplinary hearing against prominent employment lawyer Michael Blickman continued Wednesday, with the defense beginning its presentation with testimony from Blickman himself.
Transfer dissent: Justices should ‘clear up uncertainty’ about disclosure of private information
Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush has penned a dissent to the denial of transfer to a case involving public disclosure of private health information, calling the transfer decision a missed opportunity “to clear up uncertainty” regarding whether disclosure is actionable.
Suspended lawyer facing theft counts in 4 counties wanted again
The suspended Greenwood lawyer accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from disabled and special-needs clients is again facing a warrant for his arrest, this time for failing to appear as ordered at a hearing in one of the multiple felony theft cases he faces.
Justices order new drunken driving trial after possible juror bias
A woman convicted on a drunken driving charge will get a new trial after the Indiana Supreme Court unanimously threw out her conviction on Friday. The justices remanded the Marion County case because the trial court did not hold a hearing to determine whether the defendant could have challenged a selected juror who later admitted that a family member had been killed by a drunken driver.
Supreme Court releases 2019 annual report
The Indiana Supreme Court has released its annual report, revealing details from the 870 cases it reviewed during the past fiscal year, as well updates on its attempts to address Indiana’s opioid crisis, and its milestones of certifying 100 problem-solving courts and wrapping up the rollout of statewide electronic filing.
Suspended judge involved in shooting moves for reinstatement
The suspended Clark Circuit Court judge who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery for his role in an Indianapolis shooting that also wounded a second southern Indiana jurist has asked to be reinstated to the bench because doing so “is in the best interest of the Clark County judicial system.”
Disciplinary Actions
Read which Indiana Lawyers have been subject to Indiana Supreme Court discipline orders in the most recent reporting period.
Indiana Court Decisions – Aug. 28-Sept. 11, 2019
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the most recent reporting period.
After judge’s plea, JQC investigating shooting
Though he’s past the legal ramifications of an early-morning shooting in May, Clark Circuit Judge Andrew Adams must still face a judicial discipline action investigating the matter. His plea and the highly publicized nature of the shooting led the Indiana Judicial Qualifications Commission to take the rare step of publicly confirming its investigation of the incident.
Supreme Court accepting applications for state public defender
The Indiana Supreme Court is now accepting applications for the state’s next public defender. Indiana’s current public defender, Stephen Owens, is retiring in December.
Justices appoint new members to JLAP advisory committee
Replacements have been selected to fill upcoming vacancies on the Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program Advisory Committee, the Indiana Supreme Court has announced.
Justices: Amended statute retroactively applies in eminent domain action
Indiana Supreme Court justices have determined that an amended statute dealing with ownership transfer in instances of eminent domain may be applied retroactively.
Justices consider PCR for Gary man convicted in slaying
He was convicted in 2013 of brutally killing his wife and two stepchildren. His death sentence has already been upheld on direct appeal, but Kevin Isom is again asking the Indiana Supreme Court to give him another chance at a sentence less than death.
Supreme Court grants partial victory for would-be buyers in Rainbow Realty dispute
Would-be homebuyers secured a partial victory from the Indiana Supreme Court against Rainbow Realty Group after it concluded the parties’ rent-to-buy agreement was not a land-sale contract. However, relief awarded to the tenants under Indiana’s Deceptive Consumer Sales Act was reversed.
Justices order state courts to adopt security plans
Changes have been made to Indiana’s court security rules, adding new language that addresses individual court security plans.
Judicial commission investigating shooting involving judges
The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications is investigating the May 1 shooting that left two Clark County judges wounded and one convicted of misdemeanor battery, the Indiana Supreme Court confirmed Wednesday.
Lawyer suspended for hiring killer in ‘woefully inadequate’ defense
An Indianapolis attorney who hired a convicted killer to persuade a defendant accused of murder to ditch a public defender and retain him has been suspended for three years for incompetent client representation and lying to the disciplinary commission. A dissenting justice, however, would have disbarred the attorney.