How to Handle Expungements

In regards to court records, what is expungement? When is it authorized? How is it accomplished?
Black’s Law Dictionary tells us to expunge is “to destroy or obliterate; blot out; efface designedly; strike out wholly.”
Express authority for courts to order expungement of records in Indiana is rather limited. Statutory authority for expungement of arrest records is [...]

Different Processes Govern Special Judge Appointments for Criminal and Civil Cases

Indiana rules of procedure and case law allow for the appointment of special judges under certain circumstances.  The process for selecting judges can sometimes be confusing because it varies depending on the type of case and the reason a special judge is needed. In civil cases, different steps must be followed depending on whether the [...]

Highlights from the 2010 Indiana General Assembly for Courts and Clerks

The Indiana Judicial Conference has compiled an excellent and extensive digest of all legislation passed by the 2010 Indiana General Assembly. The legislative digest of these laws can be found at www.in.gov/legislative/reports/2010/DIGEST_OF_ENACTMENTS.PDF.  If you would like to see the entire text of any law, as well as any other legislative action, you may access this [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Marshall County Courts Launch State-of-the-Art Video Teleconferencing Technology

Under the leadership of Marshall Superior Court #2 Judge Dean A. Colvin and with the support and cooperation of the Marshall County Sheriff Jon VanVactor, the County Commissioners, the County Council, the IT Department, Marshall Circuit Court Judge Curtis D. Palmer and Marshall Superior Court #1 Judge Robert O. Bowen, Marshall County launched its new [...]

Allen County Courts Prepare for the Unexpected

Just as Jefferson County’s Courthouse fire of 2009 demonstrated the catastrophic impact of unforeseen events, ongoing efforts undertaken by the Allen County Courts are leading the way in preparing for such disruptions that could occur at any time. Agreeing to take the lead in helping to evolve the Indiana Courts Continuity Program in a way [...]

Problem Solving Courts in Indiana

All Indiana judges are familiar with the “revolving door” of the criminal justice system.  Individuals are sentenced for relatively minor criminal offenses, only to return months later facing new and frequently more serious charges. While terms of imprisonment seem to curb criminal activity for a period of time, eventually the re-offending individual reverts back to [...]

The National Center for State Courts: An Excellent Resource

Indiana judges, clerks and their staffs don’t need to read statistical reports to know that thousands of cases are flowing through their courts and that the number is constantly increasing.  They intuitively know from their daily work and the many litigants that come through their courts’ doors that state courts dispense justice in the United [...]

Back Home in Indiana

Mortgage Foreclosure Project Update—
Indiana’s mortgage foreclosure rate is among the highest in the country, largely due to the decline of the automotive and manufacturing industries.  In 2008, the state saw 45,394 foreclosures—a more than 50 percent increase since 2003.  In January 2009, Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard addressed this crisis, vowing to train more professionals [...]

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