UPDATE: Committee tweaking St. Joe judges bill
A legislative conference committee is debating what changes might be possible for a bill aimed at scrapping merit selection for St. Joseph Superior judges.
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Shutdown wouldn’t cripple legal system
As the clock ticked closer to a partial shutdown of state government, the Hoosier legal community received word this afternoon from the Indiana Supreme Court that trial courts should conduct business as usual and that the state's legal system would continue as much as possible if lawmakers fail to pass a budget by deadline.
No vote yet on St. Joe judges bill
An Indiana Senate committee debated this morning a bill that would make it so St. Joseph Superior judges are elected rather than chosen by merit selection and later retained by voters.
‘Rocket docket’ now set for juvenile appeals
New rules from the Indiana Supreme Court this week officially create an expedited "rocket docket" for certain juvenile cases going through the appellate system.
Appeals court expansion bill stays alive
Legislation that would create a new sixth panel for the Indiana Court of Appeals is moving through the legislative committee cycle, even though lawmakers doubt it will pass this session. The Senate Judiciary Committee met this morning and discussed Senate Bill 35, which proposes an additional appellate judge panel for the first time since 1991. […]
Legislator wants elected high court jurists
One Indiana legislator wants to make changes to the state's highest court, including how the jurists are seated.
Governor likely to soon get St. Joe judges bill
Gov. Mitch Daniels will likely receive legislation today aimed primarily at scrapping judicial merit selection in St. Joseph County and creating a new Indiana Court of Appeals panel starting 2011.
Paternity, election bills go to governor
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels received 34 enrolled bills Tuesday awaiting his signature to make them law.
New legislation streaming in
An Indiana Court of Appeals expansion, executing the mentally ill, and how judges find representation in mandate litigation are just a few proposals already on tap for the General Assembly to consider this session.
Judicial merit-selection override a possibility
The state's top executive has rejected the idea of scrapping merit selection in St. Joseph County, but it remains unclear whether lawmakers will attempt to override that veto during a special session.
2010 Organization Day for lawmakers today
Lawmakers returned to the Indiana Statehouse today for Organization Day, a traditionally ceremonial time spent electing leaders and organizing priorities for its second regular session – the short session – that starts in January. More coverage will be in the Nov. 25 issue of Indiana Lawyer.
Coverage for unborn children up in air
Lawmakers failed to act on a bill that would have amended Indiana's child wrongful death statute to cover unborn children, thus defeating it for this legislative session in its current form.
Lawmakers: No Gitmo detainees to Indiana
A Northern Indiana lawmaker doesn't want any Guantanamo Bay Naval Base detainees to be sent to a high-security prison in Terre Haute once the Guantanamo camp is closed within a year.
Governor gives teachers more legal protection
Hoping to curb frivolous lawsuits against teachers and schools, Gov. Mitch Daniels signed into law today legislation that he describes as being the strongest in the nation on protecting teachers from student discipline litigation.
President nominates former Indiana attorney
President Barack Obama has nominated a former Indiana lawyer as well as a former Indiana representative and gubernatorial candidate for roles in his administration. Both positions must receive Senate confirmation
4.4 million Hoosiers registered to vote
ccording to the Indiana Secretary of State’s Web site, Indiana has nearly 4.4 million registered voters, based on information last updated Sept. 27.