The point of a civil or criminal trial—overall--is to ensure substantive and procedural due process and protection of fundamental and key constitutional principles. However, no trial court is infallible and most trials do not occur without legal errors being made. This is why some errors may be deemed “harmless” and not afford a new trial or reversal. Stated differently, this means that unless a given error in a ruling or decision significantly impacts constitutional rights, it may be deemed harmless on appeal and the case affirmed by the Court of Appeals (Indiana’s first appellate court) or the Indiana Supreme Court. One ... Read More