Marion Co. Prosecutor’s Office accepting petitions for wrongful conviction reviews
The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office is officially accepting conviction review petitions as part of its new Conviction Integrity Unit.
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IU names Pamela Whitten of Kennesaw State University new president
The Indiana University board of trustees voted Friday morning to name Pamela Whitten — the leader of fast-growing Kennesaw State University in Georgia — its 19th president, making her the first woman to lead the state’s largest university system.
FedEx gunman who killed 8, self was known to police
The former employee who shot and killed eight people at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis was interviewed by FBI agents last year after his mother called police to say that her son might commit “suicide by cop,” the bureau said Friday. Authorities also released the names of the eight victims late Friday.
Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic gets $1M grant from Lilly Endowment
Indianapolis-based Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic has been awarded a grant of just over $1 million from Lilly Endowment’s Enhancing Opportunity Initiative, allowing the legal aid provider to bolster its assistance to individuals who are reentering society after being incarcerated.
GAL/CASA provider change causes anger, confusion
Two Indianapolis nonprofits that serve youngsters in the child welfare system, Child Advocates and Kids’ Voice of Indiana, have been at the center of an argument that many families have had: Who can better care for the youngest members?
Evolving law addresses coverage after hack
In what one justice described as an “emerging area of law,” the Indiana Supreme Court recently issued an opinion that insurance lawyers say provides, for the first time, concrete guidance in Indiana on how far computer fraud insurance can extend against hacks.
Making history: Pratt first African American chief judge of Southern District
New Southern District of Indiana Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt Pratt is focused on steps to reopen courthouses to the public as the country hopes to be quelling the COVID-19 virus and advocating in Congress for a new judgeship to help handle the court’s excessive caseload.
Security guard charged with murder loses appellate bid for release on bail
An Indianapolis security guard who shot and killed a woman in her vehicle must remain in jail until his trial, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled, affirming the denial of the guard’s petition for release on bail in a “close case.”
Marion County sheriff’s deputy shoots man while serving warrant
A Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempting to serve a warrant shot and injured a 30-year-old man who appeared to be unarmed, police said.
Kids’ Voice, Child Advocates in contract talks after report cited cost overruns
With just three weeks before its contract with the city of Indianapolis ends, Child Advocates is trying to negotiate a subcontract with Kids’ Voice so it can continue providing volunteers and staff to advocate for youngsters in Indiana’s child welfare system. Meanwhile, a report questioned longtime contractor Child Advocates’ cost overruns.
Child Advocates worried for young clients after losing Marion County CASA contract
Child Advocates is asking the city of Indianapolis to delay plans to switch CASA providers until the end of year, citing questions about the transition, the ability of Kids’ Voice to handle the work and concerns over the risk to children.
Amid accusations, Lake, St. Joseph judicial nominating bill passes Senate
The Indiana Senate approved a bill reducing local attorney input into who serves on the judicial nominating commissions for Lake and St. Joseph counties Monday despite objections from Democratic senators, one of whom insinuated the changes were triggered by anonymous complaints from candidates who had lost out on judge appointments.
Marion County switches CASA contract from Child Advocates to Kids’ Voice
Kids’ Voice of Indiana, a nonprofit serving children and families, will take over the training and operation of the court-appointed special advocate program in Marion County courts May 1 after the city of Indianapolis switched the contract for the services from Child Advocates.
Wisconsin seeks legal fees, citing Indy firm’s ‘egregious conduct’ in Trump election suit
An Indianapolis law firm that represented former President Donald Trump in a failed attempt to overturn the results of the November 2020 Wisconsin election should pay at least $145,000 in attorney fees as a sanction for bringing a “meritless” case, filings by the state defendants say.
Ex-partner hits back with counterclaim in George & Farinas fight
Longtime Indianapolis asbestos litigation lawyer Linda George is accusing her former law partner in court filings of “hostile, abusive, vituperative, ungrateful and selfish conduct” and of stealing the firm’s assets and employees to open a competing law firm.
Judge rejects Dish TV’s motion to dismiss WISH-TV discrimination lawsuit
A federal judge on Wednesday rejected Dish TV’s motion to dismiss a discrimination lawsuit brought against it by WISH-TV Channel 8 parent Circle City Broadcasting.
High court sympathetic to college athletes in NCAA dispute
The United States Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed ready to give college athletes a win in a dispute with Indianapolis-based NCAA over rules limiting their education-related compensation.
As in-person trials resume, Marion County courts struggle to get enough jurors to respond to summonses
Following a “drastic” move by the Indiana Supreme Court suspending in-person jury trials from mid-December to March 1, courts across Indiana are attempting to resume the hallmark proceedings of the American judicial system. But in Marion County, finding enough jurors to hold those proceedings has proven difficult.
IndyBar Board Approves Racial Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Commission Report and Recommendations
The Indianapolis Bar Association recognizes that equality, diversity and inclusion impact all aspects of work among members of the IndyBar, within the practice of law and within the communities where we live and work. The association, through its actions and those of its members, seeks to be instrumental in creating a more equitable, diverse and inclusive society.
Indianapolis keeping mask mandate, virus precautions for now
Indianapolis is keeping its mask mandate and other coronavirus precautions in place for now despite Gov. Eric Holcomb’s decision this week to end Indiana’s statewide mask mandate in early April, Mayor Joe Hogsett announced Thursday.