RESOURCES

Focus is on Indiana law, and on interesting developments in law, government, and more (not just in Indiana).

Ind. Law - Indiana Law Journal Supplement announced IU Law-Bloomington's law review is going to expand, according to this 10-page article by Doulas A. Hass posted on SSRN. The abstract: While blogs or Wikis undoubtedly have an important, expressive place in legal discourse, these short-form outlets leave the...

Ind. Decisions - Yet more on 7th Circuit decision re identity theft This ILB entry from Aug. 25th, and its links, point to serious shortcomings in the Indiana laws said to protect Hoosiers against identity theft. The one bright spot, the ILB wrote, is that "During this year's 2007 session, one of...

Ind. Courts - Another case today of missing court records Two missing records stories in one today! Rebecca S. Green of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette reports that: The mother of a convicted murderer sits in a jail cell because she refused a judge’s order to return the official court...

Ind. Courts - Files on 191 defendants, hidden in the 1990s, discovered in 2005, announced this week A pretty incredible story today, reported by Bill McCleery of the Indianapolis Star. Some quotes: The Johnson County prosecutor was forced Wednesday to dismiss misdemeanor criminal charges against 191 defendants in Greenwood City Court because their files were hidden away...

Ind. Courts - More on: Indiana Supreme Court only Supreme Court in Nation with No Women Members! Indiana has the only top court in the nation with no women members, and many in the State of Idaho are doing their best to keep Idaho from becoming the second such state. See this ILB entry from Tuesday. Currently...

Ind. Courts - US Attorney Susan Brooks moving on to Ivy Tech This Indianapolis Star is reporting this afternoon, in a story by Jon Murray, that:U.S. Attorney Susan Brooks has accepted a job as the top lawyer for Ivy Tech Community College, officials confirmed this afternoon. Brooks, who oversees federal prosecutions for...

Ind. Decisions - Federal Judge Tinder rules for plainitiifs in Indiana wine shipping suit An opinion has been issued today by Judge John D. Tinder in the case of Baude v. Heath - access the 71-page decision here. The ruling contains an excellent introductory section:This litigation challenges the constitutionality of Indiana laws that allegedly...

Ind. Decisions - Note 7th Circuit sanctions in Illinois case Thanks to Robert Loblaw of the blog Decision of the Day for picking up on Judge Easterbrook's opinion today in the case out of the ND Illinois, Wade v. Soo Line RR Corp. In an entry titled "More Trouble for...

Ind. Decisions - Court of Appeals issues 1 today (and 5 NFP) For publication opinions today (0): In Michael L. James v. State of Indiana , a 6-page opinion, Judge Robb writes:Case Summary and Issue. Following a jury trial at which he was found guilty of possession of methamphetamine, a Class C...

Ind. Decisions - Supreme Court issues one In Spenser A. Krempetz v. State of Indiana, a 15-page opinion, Judge Rucker writes:Spenser A. Krempetz appeals his sentence of life imprisonment without parole (LWOP) after pleading guilty to murder, a felony, conspiracy to commit murder, a Class A felony,...

Ind. Decisions - Still more on: "'Honk for peace' case tests limits on free speech" "High court weighs Hoosier free-speech case: Ex-Bloomington teacher says school fired her for comments on Iraq war," is the headline to this story today by Fort Wayne Journal Gazette Washington editor, Sylvia A. Smith. Some quotes: WASHINGTON – The Supreme...

Ind. Decisions - "Appeal, sentence reduction denied in Grayson murder case" Reporting on yesterday's COA's decision in the case of Robert Schutz v. State of Indiana (NFP), Sophia Voravong of the Lafayette Journal & Courier writes today:In a nine-page opinion issued Tuesday, a panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals rejected...

Ind. Courts - More on: Muncie attorney fails to appear for plea hearing Updating this ILB entry from Aug. 25th, the Muncie Star-Press reports today:WINCHESTER -- Muncie attorney Donald McClellan pleaded guilty Tuesday to possession of cocaine and public intoxication, more than a year after he was found urinating on a highway in...

Environment - "BP gets break on soot limits: Indiana decision insulates firm from new federal rules" [Updated] Michael Hawthorne of the Chicago Tribune reports today:Indiana regulators have granted BP another exemption from environmental standards, this time relaxing rules requiring a sharp drop in harmful soot pollution from the company's Whiting oil refinery. The decision by the Indiana...

Ind. Courts - "Lawmakers should look at model diversion programs" Picking up on their news story yesterday headed "Vanderburgh County diversion program to expand," the Evansville Courier & Press editorializes today:There was a time when people who committed crimes while under the influence of drugs or alcohol would serve their...