Discipline and data: New laws continue rethinking approach to troubled youths
Bills dealing with suspension of students and the collection of data on discipline continue an evolution of how the state deals with children at school.
Law & Politics
Articles
Justices take jurisdiction from COA in ‘policing for profit’ case
A case challenging the constitutionality of Indiana’s civil forfeiture laws is heading to the Indiana Supreme Court, just as a separate Indiana civil forfeiture case will be heard next term by the United States Supreme Court.
Justices won’t hear nursing home moratorium appeal
A majority of Indiana’s Supreme Court let stand Indiana’s moratorium on nursing home construction. The 3-2 ruling is a loss for Carmel-based Mainstreet Property Group, which sought to overturn the ban.
Vote on Indiana federal judicial nominees held over
The nominees for the Northern and Southern Indiana district courts will have to wait at least another week before they receive a vote from the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. The committee unanimously agreed Thursday to hold over a host of nominees to the federal bench, including Holly Brady and James Patrick Hanlon, nominees for the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts, respectively.
Potential Manafort jurors could be asked about IRS, Ukraine
Prosecutors in special counsel Robert Mueller’s office want to ask potential jurors at the upcoming trial of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort about their views of the IRS and Ukraine, among other topics. Prosecutors submitted a request Thursday to use a 20-page jury questionnaire at the trial scheduled for next month in Alexandria, Virginia.
Justices: No definitive ruling on partisan districts
The U.S. Supreme Court is resolving partisan redistricting cases from Wisconsin and Maryland without ruling on the broader issue of whether electoral maps can give an unfair advantage to a political party.
Results of DCS outside assessment to be released Monday
Key findings from an outside assessment of Indiana’s Department of Child Services will be released Monday, when representatives from the Child Welfare Policy and Practice Group will present the results of the assessment requested by Gov. Eric Holcomb. Holcomb asked for the DCS study after former director Mary Beth Bonaventura abruptly resigned, accusing Holcomb of cutting funds and putting children’s lives at risk.
Kentucky man sentenced to 30 days for assault on congressman
A Kentucky man who had “had enough” of his congressman neighbor edging too close to his yard has been sentenced to 30 days in prison after he ran onto Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul’s property and tackled him. Rene A. Boucher, 60, after he assaulted Paul on Nov. 3, 2017.
In Fort Wayne, Sessions cites Bible to defend separating immigrant families
Attorney General Jeff Sessions cited the Bible on Thursday in defense of a border policy that has resulted in hundreds of immigrant children being separated from their parents after they enter the U.S. illegally. Sessions, speaking in Fort Wayne on immigration, pushed back against criticism he has received over the policy.
AG Hill praises DOJ decision not to defend Obamacare in federal suit
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is commending the U.S. Department of Justice’s announcement that it will refrain from defending significant portions of the Affordable Care Act in court, saying the move shows the strength of a 20-state lawsuit challenging the controversial individual mandate.
Indiana GOP platform keeps marriage between man and woman
Indiana Republican Party activists overwhelmingly voted Saturday to reaffirm language first inserted in their platform when Vice President Mike Pence was governor that defines marriage as a union “between a man and a woman.”
ACLU arguing for injunction against abortion law taking effect July 1
An in-court battle over yet another Indiana abortion law will take place Friday when the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana will urge a district court judge to enter an injunction against portions of a law set to take effect in less than a month.
House Speaker opposes Republican marriage platform changes
Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma is the latest powerful GOP leader who doesn’t want to change the state Republican Party’s platform that favors “marriage between a man and a woman.”
Indiana getting 8 additional federal prosecutors
Eight prosecutors will be added to U.S. attorney’s offices in the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, those offices announced Tuesday. The new positions are part of the largest nationwide boost of federal law enforcement attorneys in decades.
Study: Gun removal law reduces suicides in Indiana
An Indiana law allowing authorities to temporarily remove guns from those considered a risk to others or themselves has helped reduce the state’s firearm-related suicides, according to a University of Indianapolis study.
Trump says he has ‘absolute right’ to pardon himself
President Donald Trump asserted his presidential power and escalated his efforts to discredit the special counsel Russia probe on Monday, declaring he has the “absolute right” to pardon himself and attacking the investigation as “totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL!”
7th Circuit refuses to dismiss congressman’s corruption charges
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago refused to dismiss corruption charges against former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, saying Wednesday that it can’t legally assess whether his prosecution violated constitutional separation-of-powers clauses until after his trial.
South Bend fails to override veto of anti-abortion rezoning
The South Bend Common Council failed to override the mayor’s veto of its decision to allow an anti-abortion rights center to open next to a proposed abortion clinic.
Supreme Court makes legal sports betting a possibility
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal law Monday that bars gambling on football, basketball, baseball and other sports in most states, giving states the go-ahead to legalize betting on sports. Indiana was among the states pushing for the decision.
Giuliani cautions no Trump-Russia interview decision soon
President Donald Trump and his lawyers likely won’t decide whether he will answer questions from Russia probe investigators until after his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un next month, according to the president’s legal team.