Lake Co. father of drowned brothers pleads guilty to neglect charges
An Indiana man pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury in the drownings of his two sons.
Lake County
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Hamilton County to get new court, 4 counties to get new magistrates
Five Indiana counties will get additional judicial resources after Gov. Eric Holcomb signed legislation allowing for additional magistrates and courts. One county, however, will lose a court that had previously been approved.
ATF to help Gary authorities investigate suspicious fires
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will help the Gary police and fire departments investigate a series of recent suspicious fires, authorities said.
Father of drowned brothers pleads guilty to neglect charges
An Indiana man pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury in the drownings of his two sons.
Justices reject appeal to make public Indianapolis’ Amazon HQ2 offer
The Indiana Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from a tax trade publication that sought disclosure of tax dollars and incentives Indianapolis and the state offered Amazon in the city’s failed attempt to lure the online retail giant’s coveted second headquarters project known as HQ2.
Reversal erases partial judgment for U.S. Steel in mechanic’s lien dispute
A trial court erred in partially ruling for U.S. Steel in a dispute among material suppliers and contractors who built a now-defunct Gary industrial facility, the Indiana Court of Appeals held Monday.
Lake Co. must pay probation officers’ legal expenses, COA rules
Lake County must foot the bill for legal expenses incurred by two probation officers in a federal lawsuit brought by a probationer, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled.
Holcomb signs bill changing Lake, St. Joe JNCs
The structure of judicial selection in Lake and St. Joseph counties will soon change now that Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has signed controversial legislation changing the composition of the judicial selection panels in the northern Indiana counties.
Judge: BP’s Whiting refinery violated soot emission limits
A BP refinery in northwestern Indiana repeatedly violated air pollution standards for soot emissions between 2015 and 2018, a federal judge ruled in a lawsuit brought by environmental advocates.
COA reverses reopening of dismissed eminent domain action
Homeowners challenging a Lake County public construction project must challenge the project’s impact on their property through a new inverse condemnation action, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled, reversing a ruling allowing the homeowners to reopen a previously dismissed lawsuit.
Indiana House sends Lake, St. Joe judicial selection bill to Holcomb
Despite final pleas from Lake County Democratic lawmakers to kill a controversial judicial selection bill that one said treats their county and St. Joseph County “as stepchildren,” the Indiana House voted Wednesday to agree to Senate amendments, sending House Bill 1453 to Gov. Eric Holcomb.
Stafford: Crooked Lake, St. Joe judicial bill merits a veto
A parade of attorneys from Lake and St. Joe counties testified against House Bill 1453. Most spoke in disbelief that this was happening without any prior consideration. They explained why they had taken their time and traveled all the way down to Indianapolis, some twice, to tell lawmakers why this is a bad idea and why the current judicial nominating system works. It was enough to give any reasonable person pause. But this is the Indiana Legislature we’re talking about.
Steele appointed to St. Joe bench after lawsuit delayed selection process
The South Bend city attorney has been selected to fill a vacancy on the St. Joseph Superior Court. Stephanie Steele will fill the seat vacated by now-Senior Judge Jane Woodward Miller, Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Wednesday.
Res judicata bars property owner’s insurance suit, COA rules
A trial court properly rejected a second lawsuit brought by a Gary property owner who had already sued its insurer for coverage in a previous case involving the same parties, losses and issues, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday.
Rush’s State of the Judiciary, released as online video, focuses on pandemic response
While the COVID-19 pandemic ruled out the traditional State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the Indiana General Assembly in January, Chief Justice Loretta Rush’s address for 2021 released Wednesday takes the form of a video featuring judges and court officers discussing how the judiciary “adapted and innovated.”
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.
Lake, St. Joseph judicial selection bill advances with amendment
Legislation that would eliminate attorney input and increase the role of the governor and county officials in appointing commission members who nominate candidates for the trial court benches in Lake and St. Joseph counties continues to advance in the Indiana General Assembly despite vocal opposition from lawyers, judges and bar associations.
Boost Mobile kiosk vendor booted from grocer boosted on appeal
An appellate panel has reversed for a cellphone kiosk owner subleasing space in an East Chicago supermarket after finding a Lake County judge erred in granting a motion for immediate possession by a new sublessor.
Benjamin: My dad helped keep politics out of Lake County judicial selection
A half-century ago two Indiana legislators, a Democrat from Gary and a Republican from Kokomo, set forth to improve our courts. The Democrat was my father, Adam Benjamin Jr. The Republican was Elwood “Bud” Hillis. The Lake Superior Court selects judges on merit because of their efforts.
Indiana announces COVID-19 vaccine for 30-plus, Gary clinic
State officials opened up COVID-19 vaccination eligibility on Monday to all Indiana residents 30 and older and announced a push to vaccinate up to 100,000 people in the state’s heavily populated north.