Judge miffed by defendant’s casual clothing delays hearing
A northwestern Indiana judge was so miffed that a defendant dressed down for a court hearing that she postponed it and told him to dress nicer next time.
Lake County
Articles
COA takes criminal recklessness case to Munster H.S.
Questions of whether certain witnesses should have been excused from testifying in a criminal recklessness case for violating a separation of witnesses orders will be considered by a traveling appellate panel Thursday at Munster High School.
Man charged with murder in Lake County in 2011 disappearance of his mother
A 46-year-old man has been charged with murder eight years after the disappearance of his 70-year-old mother in northwestern Indiana. The Post-Tribune reports Paul Monet Fontaine was booked at the Lake County Jail this week after being extradited from Las Vegas, where he was living.
Lake County deputy faces bribery, perjury counts in auto salvage scheme
A Lake County sheriff deputy is facing bribery and perjury charges after a three-month investigation revealed he illegally accepted cash for completing salvage vehicle inspection forms in order to make “fast and easy money,” according to authorities.
Kavadias Schneider returning to Lake County bench as judge pro tempore
A recently retired Lake Superior Court judge will temporarily return to the bench as a judge pro tempore. The Indiana Supreme Court has appointed former Judge Diane Kavadias Schneider as judge pro tempore in Lake Superior Court, Civil Division 5, in preparation for an upcoming vacancy that will be left by Judge William E. Davis.
Hobart ex-funeral home treasurer gets probation for misused funds
A former treasurer of a defunct northwestern Indiana funeral home who allegedly misused funds set aside for customers’ funerals has been placed on probation for a year and ordered to pay more than $15,000 in restitution. Jacqueline A. Kraft, 68, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one felony count of theft and was sentenced to a year in jail, but that sentence was suspended.
Justices to hear Lake County eminent domain case
The Indiana Supreme Court unanimously chose to hear two property-related cases, focusing on issues of eminent domain and deciding a case involving rental property fee exemptions for landlords in Bloomington and West Lafayette.
Teenager hit by train gets no relief in appeal to 7th Circuit
A 17-year-old who was found to be more than 50 percent at fault for the injuries he sustained from running in front of a moving train was unable to convince the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that he had no warning the locomotive was coming down the tracks.
Reversal: Former St. Mary’s employee loses claims against her termination
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed and remanded the denial of a hospital’s motion for judgment against a former employee terminated for unethical behavior when it found the hospital was entitled to judgement due to the lack of genuine issues of material fact.
Applicants sought for Lake Superior Court vacancy
A Lake County Superior Court judge will retire at the end of next month, prompting the Lake County Judicial Nominating Commission to begin the process of selecting his successor. The vacancy will occur April 30 when Judge William E. Davis retires from his position in Lake Superior Court, Civil Division, Room Five.
COA to hear denied mistrial, attempted murder arguments in Lake, Wayne counties
The Indiana Court of Appeals will travel twice this week to hear arguments in Lake and Wayne counties involving a denied mistrial and attempted murder.
Finalists named to fill vacant Lake County judgeship
For the third time in recent months, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb will select a nominee to appoint as the newest Lake County Superior Court judge.
Lake Michigan public use bill advances to Indiana House
A bill establishing in state law the permitted public uses of the shore of Lake Michigan passed the Indiana Senate on Monday and now moves to the House for consideration.
Supreme Court deciding commercial courts’ fate
After a nearly 3-year pilot project, the specialized dockets in six Indiana counties are getting positive feedback from litigants in business disputes.
Mandatory e-filing now required in Lake County
Lake County has transitioned to mandatory electronic filing, making it the first to do so in 2019. Just seven Indiana counties remain to adopt e-filing in their trial courts.
Five more senior judges certified, re-certified for 2019
The Indiana Supreme Court has certified and re-certified an additional five judicial officers as senior judges for 2019.
Holcomb appoints prosecutor as newest Lake County judge
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has appointed a prosecuting attorney with violent crimes experience to fill a judicial vacancy on the Lake County bench. Holcomb announced Wednesday that Aleksandra Dimitrijevic will succeed Lake Superior Judge Jesse M. Villalpando.
Appeals on Wheels: COA heads north, south for handgun possession cases
The Indiana Court of Appeals will travel both north and south this week to hear oral arguments in two cases involving handgun possession without a license.
Lake County judicial interviews rescheduled for March
Interviews for a Lake Superior Court vacancy have been rescheduled for March 11, following a postponement due to weather concerns. The interviews were initially scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 31.
Bid to set aside murder, attempted murder convictions rejected
A man who pleaded guilty at age 15 lost his appeal on a motion to set aside his murder and attempted murder convictions when the Indiana Court of Appeals found he should have filed his argument as a claim for post conviction relief.