Mom loses appeal of denied relocation petition
A Dubois County mother who wanted to move with her child to New Mexico has lost her appeal of the denial of her relocation petition.
Indiana Trial Courts
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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.
Tribal court recognition bill returns to House with minor amendment
A bill extending full faith and credit to certain tribal court orders in Indiana is one step closer to the governor’s desk after the Senate this week gave its unanimous endorsement to the legislation. The bill now heads back to the House to consider an amendment that the bill’s author has already said he supports.
Senate panel narrowly advances Lake, St. Joe judicial nominating bill
A bill that would change how superior court judges are nominated in Lake and St. Joseph counties was uniformly opposed by lawyers and judges from those counties in a Senate hearing Wednesday but narrowly advanced on a 5-4 vote.
COA upholds admission of medical bills in $0 pain-and-suffering verdict
Evidentiary rulings that led to a $0 jury verdict for a man who was injured in a car crash were upheld Wednesday by the Indiana Court of Appeals. The case drew participation from the Indiana plaintiff and defense bars.
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.
Boy, 14, faces murder, molesting counts in girl’s death
A 14-year-old boy was charged with murder and child molestation Monday in the asphyxiation death of a 6-year-old girl in northern Indiana, prosecutors said.
Indiana woman gets 32 years in husband’s stabbing death
A Fort Wayne woman who pleaded guilty to fatally stabbing her husband during an altercation in a parking lot has been sentenced to 32½ years in prison.
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 rebuff Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac petition on COVID interest tolling
The Indiana Supreme Court has denied a petition by federal mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac asking the court to clarify its emergency orders tolling mortgage interest in certain cases in Indiana trial courts.
Iowa man gets 45 years in killing outside Gary gas station
An Iowa man has been sentenced to 45 years in prison after pleading guilty in the 2015 death of an Illinois man fatally shot outside a Gary gas station.
Woman denied counsel gets new trial on marijuana charge
A woman whose request for appointed counsel was denied will receive a new trial on her misdemeanor marijuana conviction after the Indiana Court of Appeals determined her constitutional right to counsel was violated.
Zionsville mayor files suit, seeks to clear up her power to demote department heads
Zionsville Mayor Emily Styron filed a lawsuit Tuesday that should determine whether the town’s council can keep her from demoting the fire department’s chief.
Bill extending full faith and credit to tribal orders heads to full Senate
A bill to extend full faith and credit to tribal court orders from the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians is headed to the Indiana Senate after a committee gave unanimous support to the legislation.
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.
Carmel physician’s lawsuit says St. Vincent fired him without cause
A Carmel physician who worked for St. Vincent Medical Group for a decade is suing the health system, claiming it fired him without cause last year.
3 finalists named for Allen County judicial position
The Allen Superior Court Judicial Nominating Commission announced Monday the three judicial officers are finalists to fill an upcoming vacancy due to Judge Charles F. Pratt’s pending retirement.
Terre Haute man sentenced after student eats drug-laced candy
A Terre Haute man was sentence to a decade in prison in a case where a student at a local school became ill after eating drug-laced candy.
COA reverses, orders Tippecanoe County expungement
A man whose misdemeanors were expunged in two of three counties where he was convicted will now receive an expungement in the third county after the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s expungement denial. The appellate panel found in this case the trial court was compelled to grant the expungement.
7th Circuit: State courts, not federal, should rule on counsel for kids in CHINS cases
The question of whether children in CHINS proceedings should be appointed counsel is best left for state court resolution, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled, finding no “civil Gideon” principle requiring counsel in child welfare cases.