In Indiana, there are thousands and thousands of trials and hearings each year. For litigants who lose on the merits in civil or criminal litigation, there are roughly 3,000 appeals taken to the Indiana Court of Appeals.1 This is Indiana’s intermediate appellate court. The entire appellate process is laborious for the lawyers who handle appeals and time-consuming for the Court because three judges are assigned to review every case. As might be expected, there are comprehensive rules to ensure efficiency and consistency in the process because these appeals come from all of Indiana’s 92 counties. The one rule that can ... Read More
Category: Supreme Court
30
Apr2020
19
Nov2019
Very few cases go directly to the Indiana Supreme Court (ISC) as a matter of right.1 Most cases wind up in the ISC as a matter of discretion. The way this occurs is a party to a Court of Appeals’ (COA) decision (Indiana’s intermediate appellate court) seeks transfer. The ISC must accept the case. When it does so, it vacates the COA’s decision. This blog explores what the ISC may do on transfer and highlights a new case the reflects a change in the way the ISC has operated in the past given the addition of new Justices in the ... Read More
16
Oct2019
We have all heard on television or from an unsatisfied litigant they will take their case to the Supreme Court. In reality, most cases have a right to be appealed to the Indiana Court of Appeals (COA). The Indiana Supreme Court (ISC) must accept most cases by a litigant timely filing a Petition to Transfer after the COA decides the case. The Indiana Supreme Court then decides which cases it will take and denies transfer to the remaining cases (it does not hear them). Fortunately, the ISC has published guidance on the types of cases it typically takes (it can ... Read More
28
Jun2019
As we all know, individuals do not have the right to take another’s life. The law is clear and unambiguous as to that point. It is safe to say that the law values human life over all other individual rights ten-fold. This is why individuals are never allowed to kill people who come onto their land to steal or cause damage to the property. The law will always value life over things, and therefore provides us with very limited and defined exceptions to this rule. The biggest and most well-known exception is self-defense. Self-defense is the idea that an individual ... Read More
25
Jun2019
You’ve probably heard the old phrase, “I’ll appeal it!” But what does that mean? Your first mental image may be an argument before justices of the United States Supreme Court in a landmark case like Brown v. Board of Education or Roe v. Wade. For Indiana litigants, there is the remote possibility that a case that originates in an Indiana trial court may wind up in SCOTUS. However, the chances are slim. If you do not believe your Indiana judge or jury has decided your case correctly, you will most likely appeal to the Indiana Court of Appeals. While this ... Read More
05
Jun2019
“You have the right to remain silent” is a phrase most have heard, whether it be from a television show or personal experience. This phrase is from what is known as Miranda rights. Miranda rights are a centerpiece to the American legal system and arise out of the United States Constitution’s Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. But when exactly does an officer have to read an individual their Miranda rights? And what happens if an individual is not read their Miranda rights? The short and simple answer is that it depends. As is generally the case in law, there is ... Read More
20
Mar2019
Anyone who has found themselves in the unenviable position of being in a traffic stop knows the stress and panic it can cause. Whether it be a DUI check-point, a rear headlight being out, or failure to use a turn signal, no one likes being pulled over. You may ask yourself, “can a police officer pull you over at any time?” or “what are the limits on being pulled over?” While there are no hard and fast rules governing traffic stops, the United States Supreme Court has set out limits. The Supreme Court has stated that a police officer can ... Read More
06
Mar2019
Anyone who has dealt in the administration of an estate knows the amount of work that goes into it. Whether it be the estate of a recently passed loved one, a family member, or a friend, administration of an estate becomes tough due to the emotions typically involved with the passing of someone close to you. You may find yourself asking what to do? Where do you go for questions? What rights does a deceased individual’s estate continue to have? The Indiana Supreme Court touched on this last question in its recent decision of Estate of Shaner v. Milford1.
In the ... Read More
20
Nov2018
Probably not, at least right away. Ultimately, yes. Much of what lawyers and clients do in the legal system is far removed from the courtroom. However, where litigation is involved, the stakes are often high—in terms of loss of freedom, money/property or children. This type of litigation is a client’s life. A court loss is traumatic and sometimes leads to an appeal. All appeals are important but sometimes litigants just want “to go to the supreme court”. This blog covers few cases that automatically go to the Indiana Supreme Court versus the Court of Appeals and covers how a case ... Read More
18
Oct2018
“You have the right to an attorney” is a common phrase most everyone has heard. But what is the significance of this phrase? And how far does this right extend? An individual, in criminal proceedings, always has the right to an attorney. This right is protected by the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The importance of this right is that it ensures the defendant is not subject to unfair coercion on the part of the state or government. As such, police officers are required to “advise” individuals of their right to an attorney in certain situations. One such ... Read More