Indiana

Indiana prosecutor suspended 4 years for eavesdropping on attorney-client conversations

An Indiana prosecutor has been suspended for four years, without automatic reinstatement, for eavesdropping on conversations between lawyers and two men being held in death investigations. The Indiana Supreme Court suspended Robert Neary, the chief deputy prosecutor in LaPorte County, in a Nov. 6 opinion (PDF), report NWI.com and the…

Nov 7, 2017 1:42 PM CST

Pipeline program for underrepresented students to enter legal ed launched by ABA, IU McKinney Law

The American Bar Association on Monday announced the creation of an online pipeline program with an Indiana law school to help undergraduates develop key skills necessary for legal education, including critical thinking, test preparation strategies and reading comprehension. The “Pathway to the Law” program, funded with a $250,000 ABA grant…

Oct 23, 2017 9:45 AM CDT

Law allows sex with 16-year-olds, but bans sending them explicit photos, Indiana’s top court says

An adult can legally have sex with a 16-year-old youth in Indiana, but it is against the law for an adult to send a sexually explicit photo to a youth under the age of 18, the Indiana Supreme Court has ruled. The court’s decision on Monday reinstated the charge against…

Oct 5, 2017 10:12 AM CDT

Posner opinion tosses death sentence for man forced to wear stun belt during penalty hearing

An Indiana man sentenced to death for a triple murder was prejudiced by his lawyer’s failure to object to a stun gun belt he wore under his shirt, the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in an opinion by Judge Richard Posner.

Aug 8, 2017 7:00 AM CDT

ABA scores wins on attorney-client privilege and independence of the legal profession

The ABA achieved some significant victories during the past year by advocating for revisions to key federal regulations that will protect the independence of the legal profession and preserve the confidential lawyer-client relationship.

Mar 1, 2017 1:05 AM CST

Town’s entire police force quits, partly blames city council’s alleged ‘immoral’ requests

The entire police force in a small Indiana town has quit to protest the town council’s funding decisions and its alleged requests that the officers perform “illegal, unethical and immoral things.” The town marshal of Bunker Hill, Indiana, and his four volunteer reserve officers submitted their resignations Monday evening, report…

Dec 15, 2016 9:39 AM CST

Indiana Tech Law School will close after $20M loss

Updated: After suffering a nearly $20 million loss, Indiana Tech Law School has announced it will close at the end of June 2017. Indiana Tech president Arthur Snyder said the school’s board of trustees and its leaders concluded that the law school will not be able to attract a sufficient…

Oct 31, 2016 10:15 AM CDT

Judge: My probable cause decision ‘had the most tragic result possible’

An Indiana judge who refused to sign an arrest warrant for a man accused of stalking his estranged wife says his decision “had the most tragic result possible.” Judge Michael Hensley of Madison refused to issue a warrant for the arrest of Anthony Russell on Oct. 6 and instead issued…

Oct 19, 2016 11:43 AM CDT

Retired M&A partner gives $7.7M to law school

Indiana University Maurer School of Law recently received a $7.7 million bequest from alumni Milt Stewart and his wife, Judi. A retired mergers and acquisitions partner with Portland’s Davis, Wright & Tremaine, Stewart graduated from the law school in 1971, according to Indiana Lawyer. The money will benefit an endowment…

Oct 4, 2016 10:40 AM CDT

Out of 12 Indiana Tech Law grads sitting for state bar, 1 reportedly passed

Out of the first class to graduate from Indiana Tech Law School, only one person who took the July 2016 state bar exam passed, Indiana Lawyer reports. The school graduated 20 students in May, and 12 sat for the state bar, according to the Indiana Lawyer. The publication examined the…

Sep 15, 2016 1:50 PM CDT

This Indiana county sends more people to prison than San Francisco

America’s prison population is on the decline amid a push to reduce mass incarceration. But the trend is not being followed in less populous counties, where people are about 50 percent more likely to go to prison than those in large counties. Exemplifying the small-county zealousness is Dearborn County, Indiana,…

Sep 6, 2016 8:00 AM CDT

Woman accused of beating her son with a coat hanger claims she is protected by religious freedom law

The lawyer for an Indianapolis woman accused of beating her 7-year-old son with a coat hanger, causing 36 bruises and welts, argues she is protected by Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The arguments made on behalf of Kin Park Thaing didn’t persuade Judge Kurt Eisgruber, who refused on Aug. 18…

Sep 1, 2016 10:52 AM CDT

Lawyer who filed ‘multiplicity of suits’ over use of his skyline photo is ordered to pay $22K

An Indiana lawyer who filed copyright infringement suits against hundreds of people for using his photos of the Indianapolis skyline has been ordered to pay $22,000 in attorney fees for suing a wrong defendant. U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt of Indianapolis ordered lawyer Richard Bell of McCordsville to pay…

Aug 31, 2016 9:26 AM CDT

Trump’s VP pick practiced law at a small firm; he wouldn’t wish law school ‘on a dog I didn’t like’

Donald Trump’s running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, once practiced law at a small firm that handled a variety of legal work, including contract disputes and negotiations, real-estate transactions and landlord-tenant issues. Pence graduated from Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 1986, but he didn’t enjoy his…

Jul 18, 2016 11:10 AM CDT

Indiana and Vermont regulate consumer litigation funding

Indiana and Vermont are now regulating firms providing litigation funding for clients in civil lawsuits. According to Reuters’ On the Case blog, Indiana and Vermont on July 1 joined six other states that have passed some form of law protecting consumers from predatory litigation funding companies or services. The Indiana…

Jul 7, 2016 4:12 PM CDT