Video by Mary Kay Hudson, Executive Director of Office of Court Services with guests Allen County Court Administrator John McGauley and Judge Frances Gull Some Indiana problem-solving courts have found innovative ways to adapt to COVID-19. Allen Superior Court Judge Fran Gull and Court Executive John McGauley discuss the importance of strategic planning and creativity when […]
Features
Youth Justice in the Time of COVID-19
By Nancy Wever, Director | Indiana Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative Almost overnight, Indiana’s youth justice systems went from business as usual to remote supervision, virtual interactions, and attending court hearings online. What may have been considered something that would never happen six months ago did happen and will likely permanently shape the operation of youth […]
Building Resilience to Prepare for Tomorrow
By Paige Newland, Learning Consultant/Program Coordinator | Office of Court Services An emergency like flood, fire, power outage, mold, active human threat—or, as we all now realize, a pandemic—can adversely impact the court system in ways we may not expect. Employee absence, loss of records, technology failure, or facility damage can greatly diminish the effectiveness of […]
State Office of GAL/CASA Celebrates 30 Years of Child Advocacy at Statehouse
By Leslie Dunn, State Director of GAL/CASA | Office of Court Services On March 4 (before the pandemic required social distancing), over 400 Court Appointed Special Advocate and Guardian Ad Litem volunteers and staff gathered at the Statehouse to celebrate 30 years of best-interest advocacy for abused and neglected children and to thank the legislature […]
2020 Legislative Session Highlights
By Amanda R. Wishin, Research Attorney | Indiana Office of Court Services This year’s short legislative session addressed a couple larger policy issues: the legal smoking age increased to 21 years old (S.E.A. 1, P.L. 49) and texting and driving became illegal (H.E.A. 1070, P.L. 100). All bills are effective on July 1, 2020, unless […]
Disciplinary Commission Formal Advisory Opinion #1-20: Third Party Comments On Lawyer’s Social Media
By G. Michael Witte ׀ Executive Director, Disciplinary Commission If you use social media, are you attentive to what others post on your page? If someone should post a message or link that is vulgar, racially callous, intimidating, or misogynistic, do you tacitly own it if you do not remove it? Several social media platforms […]
The State of the Child
By Julie L. Whitman, MSW, Executive Director | Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana The Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana hosted the Indiana Youth Institute’s “State of the Child” presentation at the State House on February 25. The State of the Child has become an annual event to launch […]
The Indiana JDAI Implicit Bias Training Institute: Building Capacity for an Equitable Youth Justice System
By Nancy Wever, Director | Indiana Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative AND Tashi Teuschler, Assistant Director | Indiana Juvenile Detention Alternatives The Indiana Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative Implicit Bias Training Institute is a four-part, capacity-building workshop to strengthen one’s understanding of implicit bias and how biases impact our daily decisions. The rigorous curriculum equips participants with skills […]
Race & Equity in the Judicial, Legislative, and Executive Branches
By Honorable Heather Welch, Presiding Judge | Marion Superior Court Indianapolis City-County Council President Vop Osili conducted an organizational meeting in Indianapolis on December 11, 2019, to address the issue of race and equity in the Judicial, Legislative, and Executive Branches of local government. More than one hundred county-wide elected officials from each branch, leaders from […]
State of the Judiciary 2020
Speech edited for length and introduction by James F. Maguire. On January 15, 2020, Indiana Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush delivered her sixth address on the State of the Judiciary to a joint session of the Indiana General Assembly. The Supreme Court justices and judges of the Court of Appeals were greeted by members of […]
