Should You Have an Employee Handbook?

If a court employee sues regarding a condition of employment, the proper defendant can be the judge of the court, the state, the county or any combination of these depending upon the cause of action. There are counties with excellent employee handbooks and counties whose handbooks are deficient. Even if the court’s county [...]

When the Honorable Judge Has Been Served…Send it to me!

The unpleasant day might arrive when a summons or a notice arrives that names a judge as a defendant. Do not fret, just send it to me! There are four primary types of notices or summons that may land on a judge’s desk: unemployment claims, discrimination charges, notice of tort claims and [...]

When Only the Best Will Do (Part Two)

Editor’s Note: This is the second of a two-part article by the author about hiring new employees. The first part appeared in the Court Times JULY/AUGUST issue.
Ah, what a joy it is to write about hiring a good employee, rather than disciplining an employee for poor performance. Time spent hiring the right employee is [...]

When Only the Best Will Do (Part One)

Lawsuits related to employment issues in the United States have reached a record high. Employment laws and regulations are both ever-changing and ever-increasing creating unintentional traps for the unwary employer. In the employment arena, judicial immunity does not exist. One of the best ways for a judicial employer to avoid litigation is [...]

Employee Handbooks: Neither Fish Nor Fowl

The legal status of court employees is both unique and confounding. A myriad of statutes require the counties to provide space and funding so that the courts may operate. The circuit and superior courtrooms are the showpiece of most county facilities. The healthcare and pension benefits provided to court employees are the [...]

The Employee With Two Hats

The Court family has been proud to have representatives in active military service for our country through the wars and military operations that have unfolded in the Middle East. The newest Justice of the Supreme Court, Steven David, had a long and highly honored military career with exemplary service as the Chief Public Defender [...]

Performance Appraisals… To Do or Not To Do?

Experts on employee management are divided regarding whether employers should conduct annual performance appraisals of staff.   Judging by the show of hands at the recent Judicial College seminar on office management, Indiana’s judiciary is also divided in its use of performance appraisals.  The purpose of this article is to succinctly set forth the pros [...]

Cell Phones, Smart Phones, FLSA and the Court Employer

A Look at One Potential Hidden Cost of Technology—
Cell phones have changed our daily lives in many ways.  No more concerns about not being able to get a message to family members when you will be late.  No more exorbitant add-ons to hotel bills because you have to make a long distance call.  No more [...]

Social Media and the Employer

What is social media and why should a judge care about it as an employer?  The term “social media” refers to the online technologies and practices that people use to share opinions, insights, experiences, and perspectives. Much of the time it is purely social, but it can also be used to establish business connections, make [...]

Sexual Harassment Revisited

When I was a young lawyer, I thought nothing of it when my male supervisor chose to tell me of his sexual prowess with his wife or when the male attorneys gathered in his office to review his compilation of bawdy cartoons.  But I did mind several years earlier when I was right out of [...]

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