‘Ordered freedom’: AG Rokita sets agenda focused on ‘liberty’
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita recently sat down with Indiana Lawyer to answer questions about his first 100 days in office and his agenda for the next four years.
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Web Exclusive: COA considering legislation limiting child sex abuse victim depositions
A one-year-old law is before the Indiana Court of Appeals, which is considering whether the Legislature properly placed restrictions on when defense attorneys can take a deposition of a minor child alleged to be a victim of a sex crime.
After veto override, governor turns to courts
In the legal brawl between Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Indiana General Assembly over who has the power to call the Statehouse into a special session, the Marion Superior Court will first have to determine which lawyers are actually representing the executive branch.
Rural, urban interests compete in redistricting
Legislative and congressional districts have been drawn across Indiana so that slivers of urban areas are attached to large swaths of rural land. As a result, voters are not given true representation because their elected officials are representing segments of different communities of interest rather than a segment with common interests.
Indy lawyer publishes novel exploring madness, mediocrity
In his first published novel, Indianapolis lawyer Michael Carter explores the struggle against the mundane and the fear of being average. “In the Belly of the Bell-Shaped Curve,” released in October, follows main character Turk as he turns to apes and embezzlement to escape mediocrity, all while walking the tightrope between madness and revelation.
Indy council ratifies COVID orders after Legislature nullifies them with veto override
The Democratic-majority council’s vote—which passed 19-5 along party lines—keeps a citywide mask mandate and restaurant capacity limits in place in Indianapolis.
Suit seeks direct election of Lake County judges, says merit selection discriminatory
A federal lawsuit filed by the Democratic mayor of Hammond and a Lake County attorney argues that Indiana’s judicial nominating system that appoints judges in the state’s four most diverse counties is racially discriminatory. Judges in Lake County should be directly elected or judges statewide should be appointed through merit selection, the suit says.
Union leaders decry Indiana’s high rate of worker deaths
Indiana labor union leaders are calling for improved workplace safety enforcement with the state’s rate of deaths while working about one-third higher than the national average.
Holcomb to reinstate job-seeking rule for unemployed, study whether to ax federal benefit
Gov. Eric Holcomb is set to reinstate a requirement that those applying to collect unemployment benefits actively seek jobs and be available for work — a requirement that the state has waived since the beginning of the pandemic.
Indiana health officials plead with Legislature not to overturn Holcomb veto
Some of Indiana’s top public health leaders are pleading with the Legislature not to overturn Gov. Eric Holcomb’s veto of a bill they say would dramatically weaken the authority of local health officials during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ex-Pence economic official eyes 2024 Indiana governor bid
A Fort Wayne businessman who was a top official in former Gov. Mike Pence’s administration is getting an early jump on running for governor in the 2024 election.
Hamilton County to get new court, 4 counties to get new magistrates
Five Indiana counties will get additional judicial resources after Gov. Eric Holcomb signed legislation allowing for additional magistrates and courts. One county, however, will lose a court that had previously been approved.
Holcomb signs bill recognizing Pokagon tribal courts
Indiana courts will soon be required to recognize court orders from the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi Indians after Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a bill extending full faith and credit to the tribal courts.
Democrats revise voting bill but Senate obstacles remain
Democrats are revising key sections of their sweeping legislation to overhaul U.S. elections, hoping to address concerns raised by state and local election officials even as they face daunting odds of passing the bill through Congress.
Lawmakers to return to Statehouse with chance to override two vetoes
Lawmakers are set to return to the Indiana Statehouse on Monday to make technical corrections — a session in which they could also vote to overturn two vetoes by Gov. Eric Holcomb.
Justices reject appeal to make public Indianapolis’ Amazon HQ2 offer
The Indiana Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from a tax trade publication that sought disclosure of tax dollars and incentives Indianapolis and the state offered Amazon in the city’s failed attempt to lure the online retail giant’s coveted second headquarters project known as HQ2.
Holcomb vetoes bill that would cut power of local health officials
In another pushback against fellow Republicans, Gov. Eric Holcomb vetoed a bill on Tuesday that he said would have hampered the ability of local health officials to respond to emergencies.
AG Rokita files motion to strike governor’s lawsuit
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita filed a motion to strike Friday to have the Marion Superior Court toss the governor’s lawsuit over executive powers, arguing in part, “the Governor cannot merely sue the legislature over laws he does not like.”
Governor signs controversial wetlands bill into law
Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a controversial wetlands bill into law on Thursday, disappointing numerous environmental, conservation and civic groups that had spoken out against the legislation.
Indiana ‘abortion reversal’ bill signed by governor
Doctors in Indiana would be required to tell women undergoing drug-induced abortions about a disputed treatment for potentially stopping the abortion process under a measure that’s been signed into law.