Friends and colleagues are celebrating the life and legacy of the late Judge Michael Barnes, who served nearly 20 years on the Indiana Court of Appeals after an earlier 20 years serving as the prosecutor of St. Joseph County. “He was a great friend. … He was a friend to all of us,” one colleague said.
Senior Indiana Court of Appeals Judge Michael Barnes died Friday morning in South Bend, leaving a legacy of more than 40 years in public service.
More than five dozen veteran Indiana jurists were recertified this week to serve as senior judges in Indiana trial and appellate courts next year.
There are many adjectives friends and colleagues used to describe Elizabeth Tavitas, the newest Indiana Court of Appeals judge, when they gathered to celebrate her ceremonial robing on Monday. But as each speaker described their unique experiences with Tavitas, there was a common theme running through each set of remarks: service.
Lake Superior Judge Elizabeth Tavitas was on the bench on July 18 when her phone rang with a message that would change her career. It was a call from Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, informing her that she had been selected as Indiana’s next Court of Appeals judge.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has named Lake Superior Judge Elizabeth Tavitas as the next member of the Indiana Court of Appeals. Holcomb selected Tavitas from a pool of three finalists: Tavitas, St. Joseph Superior Judge Steven Hostetler and Fort Wayne attorney David C. Van Gilder.
A utility rate increase to fund nearly $20 million of improvements for a northern Indiana power utility was struck down by the Indiana Supreme Court on Wednesday in a ruling the court said “will likely have enormous financial consequences for utilities and their customers.”
The Court of Appeals allowed a rehearing in the case of R. Kinsey Brooks, Susan K. Brooks v. Bank of Geneva, 01A05-1709-MF-2174 , but affirmed its original decision after the bank contended the defendant made no argument of “claim for abuse of process.”
The Indiana Court of Appeals has reaffirmed a March decision that overturned summary judgment for a national motor company after granting a petition for rehearing to address the allegedly common practice of parties simultaneously filing motions to correct error and notices of appeal.
The Indiana Supreme Court has certified three new senior judges to serve in Indiana’s courts. Chief Justice Loretta Rush, acting as the chair of the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission, approved Julia M. Jent, Stephen D. Clase and Michael P. Barnes as senior judges in three Thursday orders. Jent is the former judge of the Porter […]
After an admirable career of 18 years on the appellate bench, retiring Judge Michael P. Barnes addressed the new class of attorneys at the Indiana Supreme Court Admission Ceremony on May 15. Here are his remarks, which focused on truth, integrity and compassion.
Two emotions ran high during the retirement ceremony honoring Indiana Court of Appeals Judge Michael Barnes on Thursday: sadness and joy. Judges and lawyers from across the state gathered at the Indiana statehouse Thursday afternoon to pay tribute to Barnes, who will leave the court on Friday.
The Indiana Court of Appeals will honor retiring Judge Michael Barnes at a celebration Thursday afternoon, just one day before the judge will step down from the bench.
Court of Appeals Judge Michael Barnes’ career has taken him down multiple paths — including 27 years with the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office, 1½ years with Barnes & Thornburg and 18 years on the bench — and each experience exposed him to new facets of the law.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb now has 60 days to select Indiana’s next Court of Appeals judge after the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission officially submitted the names of its three finalists on Friday.
A Hamilton County judge’s ruling that a father’s consent was not required for a stepfather to adopt his child was clearly erroneous, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Friday, reversing the adoption.
The Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission announced late Wednesday afternoon that it will send the names of St. Joseph Superior Judge Steven Hostetler, Lake Superior Judge Elizabeth Tavitas and attorney David Van Gilder of Van Gilder & Trzynka, P.C. to Gov. Eric Holcomb, who will choose one of them to replace retiring Judge Michael Barnes.
During the Indiana Supreme Court Admission Ceremony Tuesday in downtown Indianapolis, the state’s newest attorneys were reminded that how they conduct themselves as human beings will be just as important in their careers as their knowledge of the law.
Interviews with the six semifinalists selected for an upcoming vacancy on the Indiana Court of Appeals will take place next week. Three judges and three lawyers from northern Indiana are vying to succeed Judge Michael Barnes on the appellate court.
Burglary and robbery convictions against a man convicted in a Marion County break-in will stand, but related criminal confinement convictions must be vacated because the confinement was “part and parcel” of the underlying robbery, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Friday.