Justices suspend jury trials until March as pandemic continues
The Indiana Supreme Court has taken the “drastic” step of suspending all jury trials in Indiana until March 2021 as Indiana continues to report high numbers of positive COVID-19 cases.
Trial
Articles
Trial in West Virginia federal opioid lawsuit postponed indefinitely
A federal judge in West Virginia has indefinitely postponed a trial date in a lawsuit filed by the city of Huntington and Cabell County over the opioid crisis.
Supreme Court wrestles with nonunanimous jury cases
The Supreme Court on Wednesday struggled with whether to require new trials for potentially thousands of prisoners who were convicted by nonunanimous juries before the court barred the practice earlier this year.
Southern District to halt trials, naturalizations due to COVID-19
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana announced Friday it is suspending jury trials and cancelling naturalization ceremonies in response to the continuing surge of COVID-19 cases in the state.
Judge changes course, opts to keep ex-mayor’s bribery case
A federal judge who last week recused herself from the bribery case of a former northwestern Indiana mayor has changed course and will preside over the man’s retrial after all.
Man convicted in shootings of 5 outside American Legion bar
An Evansville man accused of shooting five people outside an American Legion post last year has been convicted of several felony counts in that attack.
Indiana man convicted of killing, cannibalism files appeal
A southern Indiana man convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend and eating parts of her body has filed a notice of appeal in Clark County.
COA reverses, remands for retrial on damages in car crash dispute
The Indiana Court of Appeals has reversed and remanded for retrial on the issue of damages in a negligence case brought by a Lake County woman who suffered a concussion stemming from a car crash.
Marion Superior Court releases pandemic-related jury service PSA
Just months after the Marion Superior Court commenced in-person jury trials after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the court has released a public service announcement to better inform prospective jurors about newly implemented safety procedures.
Jeffersonville man guilty of killing, cannibalism gets life term
A southern Indiana man convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend and eating parts of her body was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison without parole.
Lesser convictions tossed in Tipton County truck stop shooting
The Indiana Court of Appeals has vacated a Tipton County man’s pointing a firearm and criminal recklessness convictions, finding them to be included offenses of his separate convictions for attempted murder.
Supreme Court: Text, email notifications available for courts to contact jurors
Indiana trial courts can now send text and email reminders, cancellations, and rescheduling notices to jurors, the Indiana Supreme Court announced on Friday.
Allen County man’s 40-year sentence upheld for killing girlfriend’s toddler
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed a decades-long sentence for an Allen County man for his role in the death of his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son.
Jury found for trial of man accused of eating parts of woman
A jury from Fort Wayne was seated Wednesday to hear the case of a southern Indiana man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and eating parts of her body in 2014.
Southern District to resume jury trials next week
The Indiana Southern District Courts will resume jury trials next week following a COVID-19 suspension that’s been in effect since March. Potential jurors still may be excluded from service upon a showing of “undue hardship or extreme inconvenience,” the court said.
Husband gets new trial on domestic battery conviction
A man convicted of domestic battery and disorderly conduct successfully secured a new trial from the Indiana Court of Appeals after it found the admission of his wife’s hearsay statements were in error.
Navajo man on federal death row seeks stay of execution
The only Native American on federal death row is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to put his execution on hold while he seeks review of a lower court decision over potential racial bias in his case.
Indiana woman convicted for her role in abusing boy, 3
A northern Indiana woman has been convicted of child neglect for her alleged role in the abuse of a 3-year-old boy found with broken bones, pieces of his scalp missing and other gruesome injuries.
Facebook messages in police sting weren’t wrongly admitted in man’s jury trial
Facebook messages exchanged between a man wanted on warrant and a fake profile created by police were not wrongly admitted during his jury trial, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled in a Thursday decision.
Southern District again suspends jury trials due to COVID-19
Jury trials in all divisions of the Southern District of Indiana have once again been suspended, Chief Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson announced Wednesday. The decision stems from the recent rise in COVID-19 cases across the state and within the district following a brief resumption of jury trials.