Celebrating Constitution Day
February 7, 2014 by Dr. Elizabeth Osborn
In September, forty-eight judges and one Supreme Court staff attorney visited schools across the state in celebration of Constitution Day. September 17, 2013 marked the 226th anniversary of the 1787 signing of the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia.
For decades September 17th was noted on calendars as “Citizenship Day,” but rarely received much attention.
That all changed [...]
Courts and Volunteer Adult Guardianship Programs and Projects
February 7, 2014 by David J. Remondini
At any given time in Indiana, a number of indigent adults who can no longer manage their own affairs enter the court system. Many are looked after by a small but dedicated cadre of people who donate their time.
In a bid to swell the number of volunteer guardians, the Indiana General Assembly provided $500,000 [...]
2014 State of the Judiciary
February 7, 2014 by Editor
Chief Justice Brent E. Dickson presented the status of the courts in his 2014 State of the Judiciary speech delivered to a Joint Session of the Indiana General Assembly. He thanked the members of the Legislative and Executive branches for their cooperation and partnership in many areas of mutual concern and recognized the achievements [...]
Facilitation: A Win-Win for Courts and Unrepresented Litigants
February 7, 2014 by Leslie Dunn
More and more litigants in family law cases are appearing in Indiana’s courts without the assistance of lawyers. Whether this phenomenon is due to economic reasons, the proliferation of self-service information on the Internet, or other factors, the fact remains that these unrepresented litigants need assistance in completing pleading, filing them, preparing for court [...]
Court Reform Grant Recipients
February 7, 2014 by Elizabeth Daulton
Over the last several years, state trial courts throughout the country have faced the dual problems of fluctuating caseloads and declining court funding. Indiana’s trial courts have risen to this challenge to do more with less, and have frequently looked for innovative ways by which to fill their budget gaps.
One of these ways is [...]
EPICS: Effective Practices in Community Supervision
February 7, 2014 by Hon. Michael J. Kramer
When a person is placed on probation, there is an opportunity to enhance public safety by helping change the probationer’s behavior so that he does not commit more crimes. All too often, we miss that opportunity. Sometimes our failure is due to a lack of knowledge about how to affect change. Sometimes [...]
Press Examine Court Reports
February 7, 2014 by Brittany Babbitt
With 1.6 million new cases filed in Indiana trial courts and the launch of a new website that allows court statistics to be compared, there was plenty to talk about at a recent press conference.
Statewide media gathered in the Supreme Court Law Library on November 4th to review several reports released by the Supreme Court. [...]
Juvenile Law: Special Edition – Introduction
October 28, 2013 by Editor
The Indiana Court Times Editorial Board is pleased to present this special edition on Juvenile Law.
Traditionally, Court Times includes stories and information on a variety of topics, but the Board decided our readers would appreciate a special issue dedicated to how the courts serve children in our state.
There are many exciting initiatives underway designed to [...]
Our Children’s Potential
October 28, 2013 by Editor
At a recent conference, judges from across the state were treated to a first-rate performance by the Fort Wayne Voices of Unity Youth Choir. The remarkable poise and professional sound of the young choir led the judges to a standing ovation.
The majority of this special edition of Indiana Court Times focuses on children in [...]
Indiana Juvenile Case Data
October 28, 2013 by Editor
For over thirty-eight years, Indiana’s courts have diligently reported information about their caseloads, their finances, and the services they provide, such as probation, guardian ad litem advocates, and court interpreters. The following tables comprise state-wide juvenile data compiled from detailed reports filed by every court in the state and published in an annual Judicial [...]
