Supreme Court applicants’ info online; interviews set
Indiana state courts Thursday released the applications of the 30 lawyers and judges who want to be the next justice on the Indiana Supreme Court as well as the interview times of the applicants.
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Articles
Gay-rights bill that leaves out transgender protections advances
A Senate committee on Wednesday narrowly advanced a bill that would extend civil rights protections to gay and lesbian Hoosiers but punt the issue of transgender discrimination to a summer study committee, as well as offer religious exemptions for clergy and other groups.
Settlement restricts placing some mentally ill prisoners in solitary confinement
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana and the Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services announced Wednesday the terms of a settlement with the Department of Correction over the treatment of seriously mentally ill prisoners in state correctional facilities.
Second suit filed in Marion County jail suicides
The second federal lawsuit in two months has been filed against the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, claiming wrongful death and civil rights violations on behalf of an inmate who committed suicide in the Indianapolis jail two years ago.
Johnson & Johnson said to pay $120M in its first big mesh settlement
Johnson & Johnson has made its first serious move to settle thousands of lawsuits filed by women who fault the company’s vaginal-mesh inserts for their injuries, according to people familiar with the matter.
Insider traders look to US Supreme Court for redemption
Some of U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara’s biggest catches in a seven-year insider-trading sweep are clinging to one more hope of clearing their names.
House panel endorses bill limiting environmental rulemaking
An Indiana House committee has narrowly advanced a bill that would prohibit state agencies from enacting environmental rules and standards tougher than federal regulations.
COA: Survivor benefit plan is a marital asset
Ruling on an issue barely touched upon in a previous decision, the Indiana Court of Appeals determined that a survivor benefit plan of a military pension should have been included in the marital pot when calculating asset distribution in a divorce.
Opinions Jan. 27, 2016
Indiana Court of Appeals
In Re the Marriage of: Courtney Carr v. Beth E. Carr
03A01-1505-DR-436
Domestic relation. Affirms in part and reverses in part dissolution order. The survivor benefit plan feature of Courtney Carr’s military pension should have been counted as a marital asset. Remands with instructions to count the survivor benefit plan as a marital asset and either make findings justifying a 65/35 split in favor of wife or reallocate the marital assets in accordance with the 60/40 split previously determined by the trial court.
Indiana among states asking for stay of EPA power plant rule
A multistate coalition that includes Indiana has asked the Supreme Court of the United States to grant a temporary stay of a new EPA rule requiring existing power plants to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
13 Indiana counties to join Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative
Thirteen counties will join Indiana’s Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative this year, which will include 32 counties after the expansion is complete.
Judge OKs reworked NCAA concussions deal, with changes
A federal judge gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a reworked head-injury settlement between thousands of former athletes and the National Collegiate Athletic Association that includes a $70 million fund to pay for brain trauma testing and limits legal immunity for the nation's largest college sports governing body.
Indiana man set for release after conviction is overturned
A northern Indiana man who faced 50 years in prison before the Indiana Supreme Court overturned murder convictions against him and two co-defendants is set for release this week from a state prison.
Indiana woman gets 50 years in mother’s slaying
A 19-year-old northwest Indiana woman has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for killing her mother.
ABA committee recommends Indiana Tech Law School for accreditation
Indiana Tech Law School’s application for provisional accreditation has received support within the American Bar Association.
Lawyer sanctioned for ‘abandonment’ of federal case gets reprimand
A Lake County lawyer whose client learned his battery case against Hammond police was dismissed after his daughter looked up court records online has received discipline from the Indiana Supreme Court: a public reprimand.
Committee unanimously approves hate crime bill
A bias-motivated crimes bill authored by a northern Indiana legislator was approved by a Senate committee Tuesday, the only one of six such bills to have received a hearing so far this legislative session.
Opinions Jan. 26, 2016
Indiana Court of Appeals
Jerry E. Johnson v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
27A02-1507-CR-793
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class D felony theft.
Plaintiff in same-sex marriage case to speak at IU Maurer
Jim Obergefell, whose legal challenge to Ohio’s marriage laws led to the June 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision that gave same-sex couples the right to marry, will speak at two events next week at Indiana University, the school announced Tuesday.
Indy judge selection bill set for Wednesday hearing
A proposed merit-selection plan giving state lawmakers a strong hand in the nomination and appointment of Marion Superior judges will be introduced Wednesday to the Senate Judiciary Committee.