Senate backs bill to improve handling of rape evidence
A bill aimed at improving the way authorities handle sexual assault evidence has won Indiana Senate approval after an audit found more than 2,500 untested rape kits across the state.
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Suit from truck driver shot by Merrillville police proceeds
The town of Merrillville and one of its police officers lost their bid for summary judgment on a truck driver’s excessive force claim after a district court judge determined questions of fact exist as to whether the officer was justified in shooting the driver during an altercation.
Retired detectives now providing litigation support services to attorneys
Persistence, experience and a healthy dose of intuition — with those three attributes, two retired Indianapolis police officers have created a litigation support operation that local attorneys say provides invaluable investigative work and strengthens their cases.
Civil forfeiture reform advances, but concerns remain
The Indiana Senate has approved a bill that would reform many aspects of Indiana’s civil forfeiture framework, a move local attorneys who practice such cases say is a step in the right direction. However, concerns remain about whether the legislation provides criminal defendants sufficient due process.
House Republicans release partisan memo on Russia probe
House Republicans on Friday released a partisan and bitterly disputed memo that they say shows surveillance abuses in the early stages of the FBI’s investigation into the Trump campaign and Russia.
7th Circuit allows malicious prosecution case to proceed
A malicious prosecution case brought by a woman wrongly convicted of murdering her son will continue in district court after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the grant of summary judgment to the United States government.
Ex-Lake County sheriff appealing federal conviction
A former Lake County sheriff is appealing his conviction in a public corruption case.
Republicans vote to release classified memo on Russia probe
Brushing aside opposition from the Justice Department, Republicans on the House intelligence committee voted to release a classified memo that purports to show improper use of surveillance by the FBI and the Justice Department in the Russia investigation.
7th Circuit upholds meth convictions
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld an Indiana man’s multiple drug convictions after finding no error during his district court trial.
7th Circuit: Suit against Evansville, Kentucky police may proceed
A federal complaint alleging coercion, constitutional violations and falsification at the hands of Evansville and Kentucky police officers investigating a murder will continue after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals determined qualified immunity was not appropriate for certain claims against the officers.
Fruits of poisonous tree reverse child molesting convictions
A Blackford County man who admitted to molesting two children living in his apartment will have his convictions reversed after the Indiana Court of Appeals determined his incriminating statements were inadmissible under the fruits of the poisonous tree doctrine.
Trump aides questioned in Russia probe, Trump may be up soon
Attorney General Jeff Sessions was questioned for hours in the special counsel’s Russia investigation, the Justice Department said, as prosecutors moved closer to a possible interview with President Donald Trump about whether he took steps to obstruct an FBI probe into contacts between Russia and his 2016 campaign.
CoreCivic scraps plan for ICE detention center in Elkhart
A private prison management company on Monday scrapped plans to build a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in northern Indiana following fierce local opposition, county commissioners said.
IMPD excessive force claim proceeds to trial
The City of Indianapolis has lost its summary judgment argument on an excessive force claim after a district court judge determined genuine issues of material fact exist as to whether the city’s policies led two police officers to use excessive force against a veteran.
Defense seeks 4-year sentence for ex-Lake County sheriff
A defense attorney for the former sheriff of Indiana’s second most-populous county says federal prosecutors are seeking an “outrageous” prison sentence for his conviction on bribery and wire fraud charges.
Indiana law for felony arrest DNA collection takes effect
Indiana authorities are now required under a new state law to collect a DNA sample from those who are arrested for a felony crime.
COA: Defendants have right to counsel before drug recognition exam
A woman had her conviction overturned after the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled she should have been allowed to consult an attorney before undergoing a drug recognition exam.
Railroad officer cleared in shooting of boy, 13, in Elkhart
Elkhart County Prosecutor Vicki Becker announced Thursday that a railroad police officer won’t face criminal charges for firing shots that wounded a 13-year-old boy who led police on a car chase.
Pre-trial hearing postponed for Hammond bombing suspect
A federal magistrate has postponed the pre-trial hearing of a northwestern Indiana man charged in a pipe bomb explosion at a post office.
1 of 2 girls accused in Slender Man stabbing to be sentenced
One of two Wisconsin girls who attempted to kill a classmate to win favor with a fictional horror character named Slender Man will find out Thursday how long she will spend in a mental hospital.