Trials - The Indiana Lawyer

Justices urged to clear Putnam Co. prosecutor over undisclosed testimony deal

January 5, 2021 | Dave Stafford

The elected Putnam County prosecutor should not be disciplined for accusations that he failed to disclose a deal for testimony from a witness who claimed he was wrongly identified, placing him in danger behind bars as a “snitch.” The hearing officer in Timothy Bookwalter’s attorney discipline case said the prosecutor violated no rules, should not be punished and urged the Indiana Supreme Court to re-examine the ethical duties of prosecutors.

CJ Rush: Pandemic changed judiciary, but courts kept working

December 18, 2020 | Olivia Covington

Speaking with reporters via Zoom on Thursday, Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush acknowledged that despite efforts to keep courts operating remotely as much as possible, judges will face the difficult task in 2021 of working through COVID-created backlogs and getting their dockets back on schedule.

Southern District suspends in-person trials till March

December 16, 2020 | Olivia Covington

The Indiana Southern District Court has suspended all in-person jury trials until next year, a move announced just days after the Indiana Supreme Court implemented the same restrictions in state court due to the pandemic. Federal in-person jury trials in the Northern District also have been continued until at least late January.

Justices suspend jury trials until March as pandemic continues

December 14, 2020 | IL Staff

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.

Jury trials halted in South Bend courts

December 9, 2020 | IL Staff

All jury trials have been halted in St. Joseph County as the COVID-19 virus continues to spread and the positivity rate tops 15%.

Allen Superior Court halts jury trials until out of COVID-19 ‘red’ status

December 8, 2020 | IL Staff

The Allen Superior Court is halting jury trials until at least Jan. 11 due to the ongoing surge in COVID-19 infections in the community, the court announced Tuesday.

Supreme Court wrestles with nonunanimous jury cases

December 3, 2020 | Associated Press

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.

Trial postponed in case of alleged excessive force in Muncie

December 1, 2020 | Associated Press

A judge has granted a long delay in the trial of three Muncie police officers who were charged in an investigation of excessive force.

Jury duty? No thanks, say many, forcing trials to be delayed

November 23, 2020 | Associated Press and IL Staff

Jury duty notices have set Nicholas Philbrook’s home on edge with worries about him contracting the coronavirus and passing it on to his father-in-law, a cancer survivor with diabetes in his mid-70s who is at higher risk of developing serious complications from COVID-19.

Indiana Northern District judge recuses herself from Portage mayor’s bribery retrial

November 11, 2020 | Associated Press

A federal judge has recused herself from the bribery case of a former northwestern Indiana mayor only days after setting a date for his retrial in that case.

Ex-Portage mayor faces retrial on bribery charge

November 9, 2020 | Associated Press

A former northwestern Indiana mayor is facing a December retrial on a federal charge alleging that he solicited a bribe from two local businessmen.

Web Exclusive: Jury social media cautions revamped

October 28, 2020 | Katie Stancombe

Twenty years ago, most people learned about major court cases and trials from newspapers or local television stations. But with myriad online distribution channels and social media available at virtually everyone’s fingertips, staying up to date with the latest news has become and more accessible than ever.

Justices approve annual master jury pool list

September 21, 2020 | IL Staff

The Indiana Supreme Court has completed its annual list for jury pool assembly, once again reminding trial courts to cease the past practice of obtaining lists of potential jurors from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

Jury convicts Jeffersonville man accused of killing, cannibalism

September 21, 2020 | Associated Press

A southern Indiana man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and eating parts of her body was convicted of a murder charge Friday.

Clark Co. murder trial starts with warning of gruesome photos

September 14, 2020 | Associated Press

The murder trial of a southern Indiana man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and eating parts of her body began with a prosecutor warning jurors that they’ll see photos of the 2014 crime scene “worse than anything you would see in a horror movie.”

Tippecanoe Co. man faces January trial in twin sons’ 2014 deaths

September 14, 2020 | Associated Press

A northern Indiana man whose guilty plea in the 2014 house fire deaths of his twin 3-year-old sons was vacated last year is set for a January trial after being charged a second time in their deaths.

Prosecutors: Similar charges warrant 1 trial in Floyd death

September 11, 2020 | Associated Press

Prosecutors in the case of four former Minneapolis officers charged in the death of George Floyd told a judge Friday that the men should face trial together because the evidence and charges against them are similar, and multiple trials could traumatize witnesses and Floyd’s family.

Video outlines Southern District jury precautions during pandemic

August 28, 2020 | IL Staff

Hoping to allay fears of people summoned to federal court for jury duty as trials resume next week, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana has posted a video detailing the steps the court is taking to protect jurors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Attorney juror at center of Supreme Court murder appeal also suing state

August 21, 2020 | Dave Stafford

As the Indiana Supreme Court takes up the question of whether a man convicted of murder should get a new trial because of misconduct by an attorney who served as jury forewoman at his trial, that attorney also is suing the state over her firing related to her conduct in the case.

Marion County courts plan to resume jury trials

August 18, 2020 | IL Staff

Following a months-long hiatus, the largest county court system in Indiana will resume felony jury trials next week. The Marion Superior Courts announced that major felony trials will resume Monday, while low-level felony, misdemeanor and civil jury trials will resume the week of Sept. 14.

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