Rush reappointed with unanimous support from JNC, justices
Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush will serve a second term as head of the Hoosier judiciary after a unanimous reappointment vote Wednesday from the Judicial Nominating Commission.
Indiana Supreme Court
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Indiana Court decisions – Aug. 1-14, 2019
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the most recent reporting period.
Indiana AG asks high court to take up Munster Schools retirement pay dispute
Indiana’s attorney general is turning to the state’s high court in his battle to force two retired school superintendents to repay hundreds of thousands of dollars. Attorney General Curtis Hill recently filed a petition asking the Indiana Supreme Court to accept transfer of his civil lawsuit against former School Town of Munster superintendents William Pfister and Richard Sopko.
Justices reprimand lawyer who failed to file appeal
A suspended Fort Wayne attorney who previously failed to timely file a client’s appeal with a federal agency, ultimately leading to the claim’s dismissal after another attorney unsuccessfully tried to remedy the timeliness issue, has been publicly reprimanded by the Indiana Supreme Court.
Justices deny transfer to murderer, parents’ appeals
Indiana Supreme Court justices unanimously denied transfer to more than 20 cases last week, including appeals from a man who is serving 70 years behind bars for murdering his girlfriend and from parents who claim medical care providers failed to properly treat their infant daughter.
Last Indiana county open for voluntary e-filing
Electronic filing is available in each of Indiana’s 92 counties now that Sullivan County rolled out voluntary e-filing this month. Sullivan Circuit and Superior Courts were the last to make the e-filing transition across Indiana’s 92 counties, implementing voluntary e-filing Friday and concluding the statewide rollout in county courts.
Justices affirm parental rights for homeless mother of six
A mother who fought to be reunited with her six minor children secured the Indiana Supreme Court’s favor after justices unanimously affirmed a finding that the termination of her parental rights due to her homelessness was not in the children’s best interests.
Justices reject wrongful death claims against IPS in student’s murder
The estate of a murdered teenage boy could not convince the Indiana Supreme Court that his school was negligent for his death. Instead, justices found the estate’s claims to be barred under contributory negligence law.
Justices: Decades-old rule in fixed plea modifications still stands
In upholding a decades-old rule recently codified through a legislative amendment, the Indiana Supreme Court has ruled in companion cases that trial courts can only modify a sentence entered as part of a fixed-plea agreement if the modified sentence would not have violated the plea agreement at the time the sentence was originally imposed.
Supreme Court upholds convictions, LWOP sentence against triple murderer
A man convicted of a northern Indiana triple slaying will continue to serve a life sentence after the Indiana Supreme Court rejected his challenges to his convictions and sentence.
Stafford: Attorney General Hill is right, just not quite right enough
Attorney General Curtis Hill has subpoenaed Inspector General Lori Torres for all records related to her office’s investigation of groping accusations against him. Torres should break precedent and comply — and she should make all the evidence public.
‘An amazing opportunity’: Rule change benefits nonlawyer assistants
A rule change is creating opportunities for freelance paralegals and other nonlawyer assistants, but some attorneys have concerns that the revisions could impose new gray areas for legal professionals who use such services.
Study: Indiana among states with less diverse supreme court
Finding a disproportionate majority of state supreme court justices are white men, a study by the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law highlights the lack of diversity on America’s highest state courts, which is being described as a crisis.
Indiana landlord seeks Supreme Court’s help in land dispute
A northwestern Indiana landlord wants the U.S. Supreme Court to wade into his dispute with the city of Hammond and overturn a city order directing him to remove five apartments that he’s leased to tenants in what was once a single-family home. Jose Andrade, who argues that Hammond’s order violates his constitutional rights, has filed a petition for review with the nation’s highest court.
Ex-prosecutor Cooper suspended after guilty pleas
Former Johnson County Prosecutor Bradley Cooper has been suspended from the practice of law in Indiana after being sentenced on three felony domestic battery charges last month.
JNC to interview Rush, justices on chief justice appointment
The Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission will vote this month to select the state’s next chief justice. In Friday announcement, the Indiana Supreme Court said the commission will begin interviews regarding the reappointment of Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush at 9 a.m. August 21 in Room 319 of the Statehouse.
Supreme Court issues amended child support guidelines
Amendments made to Indiana’s Child Support Guidelines have been issued by the Indiana Supreme Court following a request for public comment earlier this year.
Justices to hear car dealer fee class action, clerk corruption case
The Indiana Supreme Court agreed to hear two cases last week including a class action against a Mishawaka car dealership. The court rejected about four dozen other appeal petitions, including a child in need of services case that sparked outspoken division between the justices.
Carmel attorney’s misrepresentation leads to 180-day suspension
A Carmel attorney has been suspended from the practice of law for 180 days for engaging in dishonest and fraudulent representation of a client before and after the client fired him.
South Bend attorney’s discipline converted to indefinite suspension
The Indiana Supreme Court has moved to indefinitely suspend a South Bend attorney who was suspended earlier this year for her noncooperation with a disciplinary investigation of a grievance against her.