Study: Indiana judiciary doesn’t reflect state’s diversity
Indiana is one of 26 states to receive a failing grade on the diversity of its judiciary in a new study released Wednesday by the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy.
Justices/Judges
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SCOTUS rejects appeal from Illinois smokers
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal from Illinois smokers who sought reinstatement of a $10.1 billion class-action judgment in a long-running lawsuit against Philip Morris.
Judge in Stanford sex assault case called fair, respected
A judge who sentenced a former Stanford University swimmer to six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman used to play lacrosse at the school a few miles down the road from his courtroom, where attorneys said that he is respected and fair.
Republicans Zoeller, Walorski slam Trump on judge comments
Two top Indiana Republicans have condemned GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump’s comments about the impartiality of a Latino federal judge presiding over lawsuits involving Trump University.
Breyer says US Supreme Court not diminished with only 8 members
Justice Stephen Breyer said Monday that the Supreme Court of the United States has not been diminished by having only eight members since the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in February.
Ex-judge must take anger-management classes
A former Maryland judge who pleaded guilty to a civil rights violation for ordering a defendant to be physically shocked in his courtroom will have to take anger-management classes as part of his sentence.
Indiana man sentenced for Facebook threat against judges
A northwestern Indiana man accused of threatening to kill judges in a Facebook post has been sentenced to more than three years in prison.
Schedule set for final Supreme Court interviews
The final interview schedule on March 3-4 for 15 applicants vying to replace Justice Brent Dickson on the Indiana Supreme Court was released Friday by the Judicial Nominating Commission.
Justice applicants conclude Day 2
A dozen lawyers and judges made their pitches for appointment to the Indiana Supreme Court Thursday as the Judicial Nominating Commission concluded the second of three days of interviews with 29 applicants.
Justices: Couple not entitled to prescriptive easement
The Indiana Supreme Court on Tuesday reversed the holding of a trial court that a couple should receive a prescriptive easement for the use of their outbuildings that encroached onto a strip of land purchased at a tax sale.
New Southern District magistrate sworn in
Matthew P. Brookman was sworn in Monday as the newest magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. He is filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Magistrate Judge William G. Hussmann, whose last day was Friday.
COA: CDL holder cannot enter diversion program for alcohol offenses
A man who held a commercial driver’s license and pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor drunken-driving offenses cannot participate in a diversion program, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday. One judge on the panel had concerns that the law treats CDL holders and those without a CDL differently.
Retiring federal Judge Robert Miller Jr. praised for legal analysis and temperament
With the exception of the year Judge Robert Miller Jr. spent clerking for the late U.S. District Judge Robert Grant, he has spent his entire working life wielding a gavel. He served for 11 years in St. Joseph Superior Court before his appointment to the federal bench.
Indiana Judges Association: The online life of judges requires prudence
We legal professionals have a unique role to translate ancient theorems into optic fiber. Along with that obligation arises a longstanding devotion to ensuring the world understands what law is and has always been: an imperfect process to determine “facts” and apply the rules.
Former Indiana mayor contends judge fell asleep during trial
Attorneys for a former northwestern Indiana mayor and his wife convicted of wire fraud and other charges for improperly using funds from his campaign and a city food pantry are asking for a new trial because they say a federal judge fell asleep during their trial.
7th Circuit tosses slating system for Indy judges
Now that Indianapolis’ pay-to-play slating system that evenly divvied judgeships between Democrats and Republicans has been ruled unconstitutional, it’s up to the General Assembly to figure out how Marion County should select its judges.
COA ceremonies set for Friedlander and Altice
Ceremonies have been announced for judges transitioning off and on the Indiana Court of Appeals. A retirement ceremony for Judge Ezra H. Friedlander is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Thursday in the Indiana Supreme Court courtroom. Chief Judge Nancy H. Vaidik will preside.
Hussmann to retire from Southern District
U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge William G. Hussmann Jr. has announced plans to retire Jan. 31, 2016, opening another vacancy in the Indiana federal judiciary.
US Supreme Court clarifies power of bankruptcy judges
The Supreme Court of the United States says bankruptcy courts have authority to rule on disputes that fall outside the bankruptcy proceedings if the parties to the case consent.
Indiana Judges Association: Clarity can come with certain costs
Judges are decidedly impartial, but not necessarily unequivocally impartial.