PROACTIVE JUDICIARY: In annual report, Indiana Supreme Court says it saw higher caseload, mental-health problems on docket
By Marilyn Odendahl The Indiana Citizen October 16, 2024 As a trial court judge in Tippecanoe County for 13 years and now as chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, Loretta Rush continues to see Hoosiers caught in the revolving door – they have a mental health crisis, get a “...”
AG RIVALS SPAR AT DEBATE: Republican Todd Rokita and Democrat Destiny Wells battle over ethics investigations and misinformation
By Marilyn Odendahl The Indiana Citizen October 14, 2024 Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, a Republican, and Democratic challenger Destiny Wells faced each other in a recent debate, which covered a range of topics, including the ongoing ethics complaints against the incumbent “...”
RETENTION CLASH: Effort to hold Indiana justices accountable for abortion ban spurs strong response by legal community
This article has been corrected to show if the governor does not fill a vacancy on the Indiana Supreme Court, Indiana state law calls for the chief justice to make the appointment. By Marilyn Odendahl The Indiana Citizen October 11, 2024 Voters angry over the state’s n “...”
NEW MAPS ORDERED: Federal court tells Anderson to redraw its ‘unconstitutionally malapportioned’ council districts
By Marilyn Odendahl The Indiana Citizen October 7, 2024 The city of Anderson Common Council is now under a court order to do what it has not done for decades – redraw its council district maps. In a Sept. 30 order, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana fo “...”
‘COMMON GROUND’: Democratic candidates McCormick, Wells reach out to Republicans during ReCenter Indiana rally
By Marilyn Odendahl The Indiana Citizen October 4, 2024 A little more than a month before the Nov. 5 general election, Indiana Democrats Jennifer McCormick, candidate for governor, and Destiny Wells, candidate for attorney general, tried to appeal to moderate Republicans during a “...”
RIGHT-SIZING THE COURTS: Legislative judiciary committee advises hiring more judges, reallocating existing resources
By Marilyn Odendahl The Indiana Citizen October 4, 2024 In addition to recommending that four Indiana counties receive the extra judicial officers they had asked for, the Indiana General Assembly’s Interim Study Committee on Courts and the Judiciary advised the legislature to c “...”
18 and not registered to vote? Sophia Craiutu would like a word
By Steve Hinnefeld The Indiana Citizen October 1, 2024 Sophia Craiutu won’t be old enough to vote on Nov. 5, to her great disappointment. But she’s doing all she can to get her peers registered and ready. The Bloomington High School North senior is making presentations on vot “...”
‘SEVERITY OF NEED’: County judges plead with legislators for more help in their courts
By Marilyn Odendahl The Indiana Citizen October 1, 2024 Officials from five counties told the Indiana General Assembly’s Interim Study Committee on Courts and the Judiciary last week that they were drowning in casework and desperately needed more judicial resources, but lawmake “...”
MORE DELAYS? After Indiana Supreme Court order, second investigation into AG Rokita’s conduct likely won’t be finished until February 2025
By Marilyn Odendahl The Indiana Citizen September 26, 2024 Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has faced three disciplinary investigations – and one public reprimand – for statements he has made while serving as the state’s top lawyer. However, he may not face fallout from “...”
VOTER ROLLS DISPUTE: Advocacy groups doubt Indiana secretary of state’s claim that registrations top 90%
By Marilyn Odendahl The Indiana Citizen September 25, 2024 Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales’ claim that more than 90% of eligible Hoosiers are registered to vote in the November election is being questioned by voter advocacy groups. In a press release issued last week, “...”