Public opinion requested on possible court rule changes

The Indiana Supreme Court is interested in obtaining comments from judges, attorneys and the general public as it considers changes to the following Rules of Court:
Waiver of Counsel by Juveniles:
new rule dealing with procedure before a child can say he does not want an attorney
Electronic Transcripts:
allow certain electronic transcripts to be filed on appeal
Electronically [...]

Awards and Appointments

The Indiana State Bar Association, at the fall meeting’s Awards luncheon on October 25, 2012, recognized several members of the courts’ family for their tireless efforts and outstanding achievements, including the following:
Presidential Citation
Hon. Steven H. David
Justice, Indiana Supreme Court
Terry L. Harrell
Executive Director, Indiana Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program
Outstanding Judge Award
Sponsored by the Young Lawyers Section
Hon. [...]

New Districts and New Judicial Appointees for the Indiana Pro Bono Commission

The Indiana Supreme Court, on January 1, 2012, approved a change in boundaries of Indiana’s Pro Bono districts. The Court shifted boundaries to balance the state ratio of indigent people per lawyer. The ratio varied as widely as 24:1 to 146:1. With the new change, which includes the elimination of 2 districts, [...]

Trial Judges On and Off the Bench in 2013

Editor’s Note: This past year brought many new faces to the trial courts in Indiana. In addition to changes resulting from retirement and primary and general elections, two trial court judges have been promoted to new responsibilities. Tippecanoe Superior Court Judge Loretta Rush is now an Indiana Supreme Court Justice and Marion Superior Court Judge [...]

If You Build It, They Will Use It

The Indiana Supreme Court Judicial Technology and Automation Committee (JTAC) has provided software to the state’s trial courts since 2005, when the first INcite application for commercial driver violation filings was launched. Since then, INcite has grown to include 16 web applications used by courts, clerks, probation offices, law enforcement, and other agencies.
JTAC’s ongoing [...]

Indiana Supreme Court Receives Outstanding Judiciary Award

The Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) has named the Indiana Supreme Court the recipient of their 2012 Outstanding Judiciary award. Loretta Oleksy of State Court Administration (Division) and Anne Jordan of the Indiana Judicial Center (IJC) attended the awards luncheon on October 10, 2012, to accept the award on behalf of the Court. [...]

Small Claims Court Litigants: Informational Self-Help Videos Available on Judicial Website

The Indiana Supreme Court and the Marion County Circuit Court have produced a set of videos designed to inform litigants of their rights and responsibilities in small claims court proceedings.
These videos—both a statewide version and a version specific to Marion County small claims—are available online at courts.in.gov/3966.htm.
The Indiana Bar Foundation also assisted with the project.

If [...]

Brent E. Dickson Takes Oath of Office as Chief Justice of Indiana

A formal, public oath ceremony to swear-in Brent E. Dickson as Chief Justice of Indiana took place at 10 a.m.in the North Atrium of the Indiana State House on Monday, August 6th. Governor Mitch Daniels administered the oath while Mrs. Jan Dickson held the same bible that was used by Justice Dickson in his [...]

Filing and Counting Petitions Regarding Collaborative Care Agreements for Older Youth

The 2012 Indiana General Assembly passed SEA 286, which creates a program (funded by Title IV-E of the Social Security Act) that can provide services to older youth who are ready to age out, or who have previously aged out, of the juvenile justice system as children in need of services (CHINS). The law [...]

Supreme Court Sponsors Pro Bono Mediation Training

The Indiana Supreme Court and the Indiana Pro Bono Commission partnered with the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum to offer a free 40-hour domestic relations mediation training program May 14-18, 2012 that was geared toward mediators working with the low-income community and unrepresented litigants. This was the third time the Court has offered the [...]

Sagamore of the Wabash, Rehnquist Award, and more

Justice Frank Sullivan Receives Sagamore of the Wabash Award
Governor Mitch Daniels presented retired Supreme Court Justice Frank Sullivan with the Sagamore of the Wabash award on July 30th.
The presentation was a surprise to Justice Sullivan and was made in the Governor’s office after the two men spoke privately.
Those in attendance for the presentation included Chief [...]

2012 Legislative Review

Editor’s Note: This report is a condensed version of the full report prepared by the Indiana Judicial Center.
CIVIL LAW
Partition
S.E.A. 156, P.L. 41-2012
This law establishes a new procedure for partitioning real and personal property that (1) requires a court to refer the matter to mediation and (2) requires the court to order that the property be [...]

Olympic Medalist Frank Shorter Delivered Moving Keynote Address at the 2012 Indiana Probation Officers Annual Conference

The Indiana Probation Officers meet annually to share information concerning legislative, judicial and other developments that impact their profession, to fulfill their continuing education requirements, and to hear from interesting and inspiring speakers. On May 3, 2012 they were fortunate to hear the words of one of our true American heroes who spoke openly [...]

Watch it on YouTube: Indiana Electronic Risk Assessment System

Learn about Indiana’s electronic Risk Assessment System for juvenile and adult criminal offenders in two new videos on the Indiana Supreme Court’s YouTube channel: An overview of the system and a user testimonial by William Cunningham, Executive Director at Grant County Community Corrections.
youtube.com/incourts
Available as part of the INcite suite of web software, and developed by [...]

Indiana Team Attends National Leadership Summit on School-Justice Partnerships: Keeping Kids in School and Out of Court

The first of its kind Summit on School-Justice Partnerships took place in New Your City on March 11-13, 2012. It was convened by former New York Chief Justice Judith S. Kaye and organized by the New York State Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children. Supreme Court Justice Steven David, Porter Circuit Court Judge [...]

Mark Massa: 107th Indiana Supreme Court Justice

The Hon. Mark Massa, formerly the Executive Director of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, took the oath of office as Indiana’s 107th Justice on April 2, 2012. The private oath was administered by former Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard, who is now a Senior Judge for the Indiana Court of Appeals. A public, [...]

Supreme Court Addresses Access to Justice Issues in the Small Claims Courts of Marion County

The Indiana Supreme Court recently sought the assistance of the Supreme Court Rules Committee and a specially appointed Task Force in addressing some potential access to justice issues in the Marion County Small Claims Court system. The matters were introduced to a national audience in an article appearing in the July 18, 2011 [...]

CASA Rally at Indiana State House

See more photos from the CASA Rally on Flickr
Volunteers from Indiana’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) programs came from across the state and took part in a rally in Indianapolis on March 5th. Approximately 350 people clothed in blue T-shirts filled the north atrium of the State House. The goal of the rally [...]

Fountain County Judge Honored; Supreme Court Staff Announcements

Fountain County Circuit Court Judge Susan Orr Henderson Receives Greater Lafayette YWCA Woman of Distinction Award
Judge Susan Orr Henderson, Fountain County Circuit Court, has been selected by the Greater Lafayette YWCA as a “Woman of Distinction” for 2012. She was recognized at an award ceremony held on March 6, 2012 for her selfless commitment [...]

2012 Court Reform Grant Applications Now Available

The Indiana Supreme Court Division of State Court Administration announced that the application for 2012 Court Reform Grants is now available online. The application is available at courts.in.gov/admin/2420.htm.
The Division encourages judges to apply for a grant. The money awarded can help improve your local court system. Up to $30,000 per grant request is available for [...]

On the Way to Something Better

On Jan. 11, 2012, Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard delivered his 25th and final State of the Judiciary address to a Joint Session of the Indiana General Assembly. An excerpted version follows. The State of the Judiciary was broadcast to a statewide audience over the Internet and on radio and television through Indiana Public [...]

2010 Trial Court Statistics

New filings in Indiana trial courts remain just below the two million mark. The number of newly filed cases is just one statistic available in the 1,782 page, multi-volume report, which includes everything from crucial information on court operations to interesting facts about the judicial branch.

The report can be found online at http://courts.in.gov/admin/2865.htm.

The Judicial [...]

JLAP Volunteer Awarded Recovery Advocate of the Year

Kimberly A. Jackson, Chair of the Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program (JLAP) Committee, received the Recovery Advocate of the Year Award. Jackson was honored for her dedication to JLAP and its mission to help lawyers and judges struggling with addiction and mental health, physical or age-related problems. The award was given by the Indiana [...]

Court of Appeals judge and spouse of Supreme Court Justice both honored; State Court Administration staff join national boards

Indiana Court of Appeals Judge Melissa S. May Receives ISBA Women in the Law Recognition Award
Judge Melissa S. May of the Court of Appeals of Indiana has received the Indiana State Bar Association’s Women in the Law Recognition Award for her dedication to helping women advance in the legal community.
Judge May received the award Oct. [...]

Reporting Security Incidents

Every day Indiana’s courts resolve disputes, sentence criminals, assess fines, grant divorces, order custody and visitation, and order the payment of money from one party to another. The inherently contentious nature of the matters that come before our courts sometimes give rise to situations that threaten courthouse security. The development of effective policies [...]

Appellate Judges Honored

The Honorable Margret G. Robb, Chief Judge, Indiana Court of Appeals is the Membership Chair of the Appellate Judges Conference (AJC) of the Judicial Division of the American Bar Association (ABA). She reminds readers that this section is open to not only judges but also lawyers, academics, and judicial staff attorneys. She invites all [...]

New Agency Staff; Monroe CASA Wins National Contest

New ICLEO Director Named
The Division of State Court Administration is pleased to welcome Phyllisia Gant as the new Coordinator and staff attorney for the Indiana Conference of Legal Education Opportunity (ICLEO), one of the programs administered by the Division.
Immediately prior to joining the Division staff, Phyllisia was an attorney with the Marion County Public Defender’s [...]

Newly-Elected Judges

The following judges were elected in November 2010 and took office in January 2011.

Judge Robb Selected to be Member of American Law Institute

Indiana Court of Appeals Chief Judge Margret G. Robb has been selected to be a member of the American Law Institute (ALI). Chief Judge Robb was nominated by Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard. To become a member of the ALI, a person must be nominated and have two additional sponsors. [...]

New Indiana Tax Court Judge: Martha Blood Wentworth

Martha Blood Wentworth took her seat as judge of the Indiana Tax Court on January 17, 2011. Judge Wentworth was appointed to the position by Governor Mitch Daniels on December 22, 2010. She was one of the three candidates presented to Governor Daniels by Indiana’s seven-member Judicial Nominating Commission. She succeeds Judge Thomas G. [...]

Judge Trockman Receives Key to the City of Evansville and Judge Kiely Heads New Veteran’s Treatment Court

Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel presented the Key to the City on January 25, 2011 to Vanderburgh Superior Court Judge Wayne Trockman. Judge Trockman was recognized for his efforts in creating one of the first certified drug courts in the State of Indiana and in establishing the certification program through the Indiana Judicial Center.
“Judge Trockman [...]

Appellate Judges Honored

Retirement ceremony held for first Indiana Tax Court Judge Thomas G. Fisher
State leaders attended a ceremony on December 17, 2010 honoring the service of Judge Thomas G. Fisher, Indiana’s first Tax Court Judge, who stepped down from the bench on January 16, 2011. The event allowed state officials, the legal community, and the public [...]

Access to Justice Award and Public Defender Commission Appointments

Indiana Judge Gregory J. Donat Receives Access to Justice Award
Judge Gregory J. Donat of the Tippecanoe Superior Court in Lafayette, Indiana was named the 2010 recipient of the American Judicature Society’s Kathleen M. Sampson Access to Justice Award. The award recognizes Judge Donat’s leadership in efforts to improve access to justice for all people. He [...]

Three Indiana Judges Witness Sons and Daughter Sworn In as New Lawyers

Harrison County Superior Court Judge Roger D. Davis, White County Superior Court Judge Robert B. Mrzlack, and Jennings County Circuit Court Judge Jon W. Webster watched proudly as their sons and daughter were admitted to the Indiana Bar on October 15, 2010.
R. Justin Davis received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University and his [...]

Mortgage Foreclosure Trial Court Assistance Project

Background:
The Mortgage Foreclosure Trial Court Assistance Project (MFTCAP) was created to assist trial courts in scheduling and conducting mortgage foreclosure settlement conferences.  This program utilizes court-appointed facilitators to reach out to foreclosed borrowers, ensure they are aware of their right to a settlement conference, and to bring both parties to the table to try to [...]

State Court Administrator Elected to Lead National Court Organization

Lilia G. Judson, executive director of the Indiana Supreme Court Division of State Court Administration, has been elected vice-chair of the Board of Directors of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). She also has been named president of the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA), a national organization that represents the top chief executives [...]

Spanish Language DVD Available for Juvenile Judges

Attention Juvenile Judges:
By now you should have received the Spanish Initial Hearing-Juvenile Delinquency DVD.
The DVD is the latest undertaking by the Indiana Supreme Court Commission on Race and Gender Fairness and you can begin utilizing the DVD right away in your court.  The Commission is grateful for the partnerships of the Indiana Judicial Conference Juvenile [...]

Justice Awarded and Judge Honored

Indiana Supreme Court Justice Frank Sullivan Jr., received the American Bar Association Section of Litigation’s 2010 Diversity Leadership Award. The award was presented during the section’s annual conference in New York City on April 21.  The award was established in 2008 to recognize those individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to promoting full and equal [...]

Workplace Spanish Class Still Available

The Supreme Court, Indiana Judicial Center, and Division of State Court Administration continue to partner with Ivy Tech Community College to offer WorkPlace Spanish Classes.  This 24 hour course teaches basic Spanish communication skills to assist staff in working with the Spanish speaking population.  In addition to the classroom experience, the course book and accompanying [...]

Building Dedication and Two Awards

AJS presents Dwight D. Opperman Award to Chief Justice Shepard
Hon. Randall T. Shepard, Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, has been selected as the recipient of the Sixth Annual Dwight D. Opperman Award for Judicial Excellence.  The award was presented on April 14 at a luncheon during the Judicial Conference Spring Judicial College.
Lake County [...]

Slowly But Surely

Jefferson County Courthouse Repair and Reconstruction—
The reconstruction of the Jefferson County Courthouse is steadily progressing, according to the Jefferson County Commissioners. On May 20, 2009, just a few days after being repainted in anticipation of Madison’s upcoming Bicentennial Celebration, the roof and cupola of the 154-year-old courthouse were completely destroyed by fire. Efforts to stem [...]

In Memoriam: Debbie Guthrie-Jones

Long-Time Court Employee Fondly Remembered—
Debbie Guthrie-Jones, 58, of Indianapolis, passed away February 7, 2010. Debbie was born May 22, 1951 in New Castle, Indiana. Since 1986, she worked as a dedicated employee of the Indiana Supreme Court as an Administrative Assistant to its Division of State Court Administration. She served as Production and Distribution [...]

Opperman and Munsterman Awards

Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard has been selected by the American Judicature Society (AJS) as the recipient of the Sixth Annual Dwight D. Opperman Award for Judicial Excellence. The American Judicature Society (AJS), which was founded in 1913 to educate the public and build confidence in the justice system, created the Opperman Award [...]

New Online Child Support Calculator

JTAC web development staff and the Indiana Judicial Conference’s Domestic Relations Committee have spent the end of 2009 building a new child support calculator to comply with amendments to the Indiana Child Support Guidelines effective on January 1, 2010.  Changes to the Guidelines that had the most impact on the calculator include a new form [...]

In Memoriam: The Honorable Judge John “Jan” D. Downer

The Honorable Judge John “Jan” D. Downer 73, died Monday, August 10, 2009. He was born in Frankfort, Indiana. Jan attended Indiana University and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and received his Juris Doctorate from Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis. After practicing law for fourteen years, he was appointed by Governor Otis [...]

Think B4 U Drive

When Steuben Circuit Court Judge Allen N. Wheat decided to add movie producing to his Resume’ he gathered a cast from the community and enlisted the Ball State University Communications Department to provide the film–making expertise. The final work product is the movie “Think B4 U Drive.”
It is not a movie about the evils of [...]

New Court Payroll System: The Digital Paystub

The times are changing. It used to be that employees knew they had been paid because they received a check. Next came the paper paystub that confirmed a direct electronic deposit. Now direct deposits will be confirmed online.
The Auditor of the State is no longer producing paper paystubs to confirm direct deposits. Instead, paystub information [...]

In Memoriam: Former Chief Justice Robert M. Givan

The Justices and staff of the Indiana Supreme Court were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Justice Richard Givan.  His public service to the State of Indiana included 26 years as a jurist on the high court, including nearly 13 years as Chief Justice.  In addition to his remarkable legal career, he is [...]

Legislative Report: 2009 Indiana General Assembly

The Indiana Judicial Center staff compiled summaries of legislation of significance to the judiciary enacted by the 2009 Indiana Legislature. To see the Center’s full online report, which includes other bills of interest and which features hyperlinks to the full text of the legislation, go to www.indianacourts.org/blogs/legupdate.
Special Session
A special session of the Indiana legislature will be [...]

New Resources Available for Judges and Clerks: Judicial Administration Manual and Online Retention Schedules Search

Though the Division of State Court Administration, the Indiana Judicial Center, and the Indiana Association of Circuit Court Clerks all provide resources, training, and guidance for newly elected judges and clerks, the sheer amount of information a new judge or clerk needs to do his or her job effectively is  significant.  There are countless rules, [...]

Family Court Grant Applications Available

Applications are now available for 2010 Family Court Project Grants.  The Family Court Project began in 1999 as an effort to serve families and children in our courts, especially those families with multiple cases pending before the court.
In addition to multiple-case coordination, programming options include non-adversarial dispute resolution, service referral and coordination, assistance for families [...]

Time to Find and Save Historic Judicial Photographs

The Indiana Supreme Court is encouraging judges, citizens, courthouse employees, lawyers, and others related to the legal profession to take stock of their photographic memorabilia.  The Court is interested in gathering and preserving historic photographs to tell the story of the Indiana judicial branch.
Several years ago, the Court began collecting historic photographs of county courthouses. [...]

In Memoriam

Judge Joseph Norwood Myers Sr.
Indianapolis—Marion County Judge Joseph Norwood Myers Sr. died on April 6, 2009, at the age of 93. Judge Myers was a past-president of the Indianapolis Bar Association and had served as a vice president of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation. He was a judge in Indianapolis’ Municipal Court Room 1 for nearly [...]

Commencement Speakers, New Judge and Staff

Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard
South Bend—University of Notre Dame at this year’s Commencement exercises awarded Chief Justice Shepard with an Honorary Degree. Evansville—Chief Justice Shepard delivered the Commencement Address to the 2009 graduates of the University of Evansville and he was awarded an Honorary Degree.
Justice Robert D. Rucker
Valparaiso—Justice Rucker served as the Commencement Speaker for [...]

In Memoriam

Madison County Superior Court Judge, the Honorable David W. Hopper, passed away February 25th.
Judge Hopper served as Judge of Madison County Court 1 from 1981-1990.  He also previously served as a Commissioner and Juvenile Referee in Hamilton County from 1991-1996. In 1997, Judge Hopper was again elected Judge of Madison County Court 1 and served [...]

NOTICE! “What the Courts Can and Cannot Do” Posters

All Trial Court Judges should have received a new set of posters that tell “What the Courts Can and Cannot Do”, compliments of the Indiana Commission on Race and Gender Fairness.
As these posters hang side by side in your courtroom or clerk’s office, many of our Indiana residents, both English and Spanish speaking, have a [...]

New Judges and Board of Directors Elections

The Honorable G. Michael Witte, now Senior Judge and formerly Dearborn Superior Court Judge, was named by the Indiana Supreme Court to serve as temporary judge of Wayne Superior Court 1.  Judge Witte replaces Wayne Superior Court #1 Judge P. Thomas Snow, who was recently named Chairman of the Alcohol & Tobacco Commission.
The Indiana Supreme [...]

Celebrating Lincoln

The Indiana Supreme Court partnered with the Indiana State Bar Association to host a statewide birthday bash for Abraham Lincoln. The 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth was February 12, 2009. Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard invited attorneys to join him in honoring America’s 16th President by visiting classrooms around the state.
It is estimated that 30,000 [...]

Reducing Recidivism in Blackford County: Putting a Foot in the Revolving Door

We are too familiar with the scene: a person is arrested, brought to court, found guilty and sentenced to jail or prison; after serving a sentence for the crime, that person is released back into society and is once again arrested, brought to court, and sentenced back to jail or prison.   We have a [...]

A Court System for Tough Times: State of the Judiciary

Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard delivered his 22nd address to a joint session of the Indiana General Assembly on January 14, 2009. He delivered his first State of the Judiciary in 1988. What follows is an excerpted version. The full version is available on the Indiana Courts website at courts.IN.gov/supreme/state_jud.html.
There was a time when people [...]

A Court System for Tough Times: State of the Judiciary

Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard delivered his 22nd address to a joint session of the Indiana General Assembly on January 14, 2009. He delivered his first State of the Judiciary in 1988. What follows is an excerpted version. The full version is available on the Indiana Courts website at courts.IN.gov/supreme/state_jud.html.
There was a time when people [...]

2008 General Election Results: Judges Leaving Bench & Newly Elected

Editor’s note: This past election was unprecedented in the number of judges elected to the bench. We extend many thanks to the Indiana Judicial Center for compiling this list. It does not include the names of judges who retired mid-term such as Judge Daniel Donahue in Clark Circuit Court or Judge Michael Cook in Marshall [...]

2008 General Election Results: Judges Leaving Bench & Newly Elected

Editor’s note: This past election was unprecedented in the number of judges elected to the bench. We extend many thanks to the Indiana Judicial Center for compiling this list. It does not include the names of judges who retired mid-term such as Judge Daniel Donahue in Clark Circuit Court or Judge Michael Cook in Marshall [...]

Clarification on Public Defender Expenditures

The Nov/Dec 2008 edition of the Indiana Court Times, in the “Highlights from the 2007 Indiana Judicial Service Report (JSR)” reported $15,896,397 as the total amount spent by counties on criminal indigent defense for 2007.  This figure is an error, and the total amount spent should have been reported as $25,320,081. Even this latter figure, [...]

Jane Spencer Craney

We are starting a new feature in Court Times called “Sidebar” that will highlight up close and personal a member of the Indiana Judiciary.   Morgan Superior Court Judge Jane Spencer Craney is our first interview.  She was first elected as Judge in November 1990 and in this most recent election she was elected to [...]

Being a Judge in the Back Office

A judge makes decisions within the confines of the law, trusting his/her instincts, and almost always in solitude.  It requires good intellect and a strong and caring heart to administer justice.   When we think of judges, we picture a wise and courageous leader, clad in a robe, making decisions while sitting on the bench. [...]

Judge Achievements and New Employee

Dearborn Superior Court Judge G. Michael Witte (now Senior Judge) was the 2008 recipient of the Indiana University Asian Alumni Association’s Distinguished Asian Pacific American Alumni Award. He received the Franklin N. Flaschner Award, given to the outstanding judge in the nation who presides in a court of limited jurisdiction, from the American Bar Association [...]

Supreme Court Committee Thanks Attorney Member for a Job Well Done and Welcomes New Member

The Indiana Supreme Court Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure expressed its great appreciation to Mary Nold Larimore whose term on the Committee ended after nearly ten years of service.  Larimore, an Indianapolis attorney and partner with the firm of Ice Miller, was appointed to the Committee in January 1999.  Chief Justice Shepard is [...]

2008 Probation Officers Founder’s Award Presented to Indiana Judicial Center’s Jane Seigel

You don’t have to be a probation officer or a member of the Probation Officers Professional Association of Indiana (POPAI) to be considered for the organization’s prestigious Founder’s Award, according to President Don Travis. “The selected person, however, shall be characterized by a commitment of influence to and promotion of professionalism to Indiana probation.”  The [...]

New Website on Judicial Retention Election

A new website has been created to help voters learn about the appellate judges up for retention in November elections, and launched a month prior to this year’s election with information about the five judges on the ballot in 2008.
The new site offers information including a brief biography of each judge facing a retention election. A [...]

Indiana Court Executive Elected to National Organization

A national court improvement organization is gaining the leadership of Indiana’s own Lilia Judson.  The members of the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA) elected Judson to serve as the 2008-2009 Vice-President.  Judson is the Executive Director of the Indiana Supreme Court Division of State Court Administration.  Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard is confident Judson’s [...]

Listserv for Court Administrators

How many court administrators does it take to screw in a light bulb?  Old joke, new answer—as many as you need to get the job done.  The development of the court administrator’s listserv allows for an entire group of experts to help one person solve his problem.  A listserv is a networking tool that allows [...]

Bits & Bytes Enters the Blogosphere

Just as technology in general advances at lightning speed—with some new device, software, mobile or web application entering the market every month—court technology in Indiana reaches new milestones on a weekly basis.  For example, since the last issue of the Court Times was published:

The Odyssey CMS went live in Tipton Circuit Court and Center Township [...]

Circuit Court Clerks Meet in French Lick

A full team from the Division of State Court Administration attended the annual June conference of Clerks of the Circuit Courts in French Lick, offering formal presentations, an Internet Café, and on-site advice on a variety of issues affecting Indiana’s clerks.
“The annual conference provides a unique opportunity for the Division to work with clerks from [...]

Indiana Supreme Court Annually Distributes more than $20 Million in State Funds and Grants to Trial Courts and Related Programs

Through several enabling statutes and some federal funds, the Supreme Court is able to provide annually much needed fiscal assistance to trial courts for their operations and a number of related programs such as indigent defense and indigent civil legal representation.  When totaled together, these amounts become a significant assistance for trial court operations.  This [...]

When Families Go To Court: Vanderburgh County Partners with District Pro Bono Commission to Create New Family Court

Families in Vanderburgh County have a new resource to help them navigate through the court system.  Vanderburgh is one of two counties who have been awarded funding from the Indiana Supreme Court to begin new family court projects in 2008.  Vanderburgh Superior Court Judge Mary Margaret Lloyd is spearheading the project.
The centerpiece of Vanderburgh County’s [...]

Workplace Spanish for Courts at Ivy Tech Available at No Cost to Local Courts

Hendricks County Superior Court Judge David J. Coleman, like many judges in Indiana, has seen a steady increase in the number of people coming into his courtroom who only speak Spanish. “I don’t think we’re alone. Probably every county has seen an increase,” said Judge Coleman.
Last year, Coleman and almost two dozen court staff enrolled [...]

Computer Classes Also Available to Courts through Ivy Tech

The Indiana Supreme Court has partnered with Ivy Tech Community College to provide computer training at 26 regional locations for all judicial employees, including employees of city and town courts, and clerk office employees who work with the courts.
A variety of computer classes are available to assist courts and county clerks in taking advantage of [...]

Guide to Standard Certification Process for Imaging of Court Records in Development

On February 5, 2008, Therese Brown, Clerk of the Allen Circuit Court and Chairperson of the imaging subcommittee of the Indiana Supreme Court Records Management Committee, convened a meeting of the subcommittee in Indianapolis to discuss the development of a general standardized certification process for courts and clerks wishing to use imaging technology to maintain [...]

Enhancements to Odyssey Released in Monroe County

On Monday, March 17, 2008, representatives from JTAC and Monroe County Courts gathered in Bloomington, Indiana to review and celebrate new enhancements to Indiana’s Odyssey Case Management System. Justice Frank Sullivan, Jr., chair of JTAC, made the following remarks:
Thank you for spending a few minutes of your lunch hour with us today as we commemorate [...]

Indiana Supreme Court Announces Grant Programs for Education Scholarships & Court Reform Study Projects

The Indiana Supreme Court is pleased to announce that funds are now available for individual scholarship grants for education opportunities and for trial court grants aimed to assist courts in assessing their organizations and implementing recommended improvements.
Information about the application process and application forms for both grants is available on the judicial website at http://courts.IN.gov/admin/reform/.
Education [...]

Rules, Rules, Rules: What’s Up and What to Do if You Want to Change Them!

The Indiana Supreme Court Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, created by Ind. Trial Rule 80, meets monthly, usually on the third Friday of the month. The committee is charged with the duty of reviewing the rules and making recommendations for improvement to the Indiana Supreme Court.  Proposals for amendments come to the committee [...]

Accolades

INDIANA JUDGE TO RECEIVE 2008 FAIRBANKS CIRCLE OF HOPE AWARD
Hon. Linda Chezem
On May 5, 2008, Fairbanks will honor former Court of Appeals and Lawrence County Circuit Court Judge Linda Chezem with the Richard M. Fairbanks Circle of Hope Award. Fairbanks is a nonprofit organization focused on recovery from alcohol and other drug problems, serving as a [...]

Accolades

INDIANA JUDGE TO RECEIVE 2008 FAIRBANKS CIRCLE OF HOPE AWARD
Hon. Linda Chezem
On May 5, 2008, Fairbanks will honor former Court of Appeals and Lawrence County Circuit Court Judge Linda Chezem with the Richard M. Fairbanks Circle of Hope Award. Fairbanks is a nonprofit organization focused on recovery from alcohol and other drug problems, serving as a [...]

Judge Honored: Hon. Lorenzo Arredondo

The Honorable Lorenzo Arredondo, Judge of the Lake Circuit Court, has been awarded the Lincoln-Juarez Award by the Hispanic National Bar Association.  The Award is named after two legal legends whose legacies include a strong dedication to fairness and equality and were contemporaries: President Abraham Lincoln and President Benito Juarez.  Both were leaders in the [...]

Division Attorney Receives IU Law School Award: Robyn M. Rucker

The Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis Alumni Association and its Awards, Recognition, and Reunion Committee, recently announced the recipients of the 2008 alumni awards.
Robyn M. Rucker (Williamson), (JD ’02) has been selected as the 2008 Early Career Achievement Award recipient. This is the first year the Early Career Achievement Award will be bestowed. [...]

Indiana’s First Certified French Court Interpreter: Molly K. Smith

In this September’s testing cycle, Molly K. Smith became Indiana’s first certified court interpreter in French.  Only 7 other court interpreters have achieved this designation nationwide!  Moreover, she is certified in two languages.
A native English speaker, Molly has studied Spanish for over 10 years, achieving certification in November 2005, and has studied French for over [...]