Patel decision restricts feticide prosecutions
The Indiana Court of Appeals holds the Legislature didn’t intend feticide charges for pregnant women.
St. Joseph County
Articles
Boyfriend gets 55 years for killing woman as kids watched
A judge has sentenced a northern Indiana man to 55 years in prison for fatally shooting his girlfriend as her three children watched.
Supreme Court hears arguments in threat case
The Indiana Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday morning on whether to grant transfer in a case on the question of whether an arrestee’s statement could be considered a true threat because there is no evidence that the officer felt threatened by it.
Pence picks Taft attorney as next Supreme Court justice
Gov. Mike Pence has selected Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP partner Geoffrey Slaughter as Indiana's 109th justice. Pence made the announcement at 1 p.m. Monday from his office in the Statehouse.
St. Joe Circuit judge named as new federal magistrate
St. Joseph Circuit Judge Michael G. Gotsch is moving from one court to another this year. The judge, who decided not to run for re-election, has been selected to serve as a magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.
Judge accepts 3rd plea deal in Granger party overdose case
A South Bend judge has accepted a third plea agreement for a teenager accused of bringing drugs to a party that two brothers attended before dying of overdoses.
Jury finds South Bend teen convicted of murder had gang ties
South Bend jury finds teenager convicted of murder should have sentence enhanced for criminal gang activity.
Jury convicts 7th person in fatal shooting of South Bend boy
Jurors have convicted a seventh person of involvement with gunfire during a gang fight that resulted in a South Bend toddler being fatally wounded by a stray bullet.
ADA claims against St. Joseph County courts fail in 7th Circuit
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld summary judgment for the St. Joseph County court system in a case involving accessibility of the St. Joseph County Courthouse and the Mishawaka County Services Building. The court said many of the plaintiffs’ claims lack standing, while others failed to raise genuine disputes of material fact.
Ruling: Simon must face anti-trust suit from competitor
Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group must face an anti-trust lawsuit from a competitor that developed a northern Indiana shopping center near a Simon mall, a federal judge has ruled.
Pretrial release project to test assessment tool
The Indiana Supreme Court is preparing to test the viability of allowing certain offenders to be released pretrial without having to pay a bail.
Gotsch will not seek third term as St. Joe Circuit judge
St. Joseph Circuit Judge Michael G. Gotsch announced Tuesday that he will not seek election for a third term in 2016.
Northern Indiana woman gets probation for home explosion
A northern Indiana woman whom authorities say caused an explosion that heavily damaged her house has been sentenced to nine years on probation after pleading guilty but mentally ill to three counts of arson resulting in bodily injury.
Carrying on an old family tradition
Cousins marking 25 years as lawyers are among quartet of Zappias practicing in St. Joseph County.
6 counties next in line for trial court e-filing
Six Indiana counties — Clark, Harrison, Henry, St. Joseph, Shelby and Wells — will be joining Hamilton County in implementing e-filing in the trial courts during the first half of 2016, with more to come later.
Indiana courts push ahead with shift to e-filing
Indiana's top courts are pushing ahead with adopting an electronic-filing system that state officials say will eventually give the public free access to online court records statewide.
5 finalists named for St. Joseph judicial position
The St. Joseph County Nominating Commission announced Tuesday the five finalists to fill the upcoming vacancy on the Superior Court due to Judge Jerome Frese’s pending retirement.
Prosecutor seeks to dismiss charge against abortion doctor
The St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office said Tuesday the doctor fulfilled terms of a pretrial diversion program he entered after being charged last year with failing to report an abortion performed at the Women's Pavilion on a 13-year-old in 2013.
Vacancy opens up on St. Joseph County bench
St. Joseph Superior Judge Jerome Frese is retiring early next year, opening up a spot on the bench. The St. Joseph County Judicial Nominating Commission will hold interviews with candidates in late December.
Judge calls out DLGF ‘infirmities’ in ruling for township, fire district
Indiana Tax Court Judge Martha Blood Wentworth had a few choice words for the Department of Local Government Finance in finding the state hadn’t answered the key question in a township’s tax appeal.