Fall 2024 Issue
Cover Story
On Point: Study shows Indiana relies on correct number of judges statewide
By Jeff Wiese, Deputy Director • Office of Court Services, Legal Support Division -AND- Kathryn Dolan, Chief Public Information Officer • Office of Communication, Education & Outreach Weighted caseload study A comprehensive study shows the number of judges in the state basically meets the level of need compared to the state’s caseload. The extensive analysis…
Features
Guardian ad Litem Guidelines adopted by Indiana Supreme Court
By Leslie Dunn, Deputy Director • Indiana Office of Court Services, Children & Families Division After a unanimous vote in favor of the Guardian ad Litem Guidelines by the Judicial Conference Board of Directors on September 18, the Supreme Court adopted the GAL Guidelines for Civil Family Law Cases effective January 1, 2025. The guidelines…
2024 CLEO Summer Institute
By Vincent Morretino, Communication & Design Specialist • Office of Communication, Education & Outreach The Indiana Conference for Legal Education Opportunity program provides support and opportunities to aspiring lawyers from underrepresented backgrounds. The program offers financial assistance, mentoring, and a network of over 650 alumni. The 2024 ICLEO Summer Institute took place at I.U. McKinney…
“Order on the Court:” Supreme Court hears oral arguments at South Newton High School
By Cathrin Verano, Special Collections Development Librarian • Office of Communication, Education & Outreach Indianapolis Star reporter Tim Evans remarked on social media that it was “order ON the court” when the Indiana Supreme Court took to the floor of the South Newton High School gymnasium on October 1. In front of an audience of…
Appointments, awards, events, new leaders, new legislation
Judicial Appointments Mary DeBoer appointed to Court of Appeals Judge Mary DeBoer Governor Eric Holcomb announced Porter County Circuit Court Judge Mary DeBoer as the newest addition to the Court of Appeals. She replaces retired Judge Patricia Riley. Judge DeBoer studied criminal justice & political science at Western Michigan University before receiving her law degree…
Developing solutions to a lawyer shortfall
In the article, “Online Law School: An Oasis in Indiana’s Law School Deserts?” Justin Forkner, the Indiana judiciary’s chief administrative officer, explores our state’s critical attorney shortage and takes the position that more lawyers alone won’t solve the problem. In fact, it isn’t just an attorney shortage—it’s a shortage of legal professionals across the board—and…
Online Law School: An Oasis in Indiana’s Law School Deserts?
By Justin P. Forkner 1 Indiana, like most other states, faces a critical shortage of attorneys. And like most states, Indiana’s attorney shortage is complicated. It defies a single solution because it isn’t a single problem—in fact, just to call it an “attorney” shortage misses the mark—it is a legal professional shortage. And this shortage…