Winter 2025 Issue
Cover Story
2025 State of the Judiciary: Your Indiana Judiciary
On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, Chief Justice Loretta Rush delivered her eleventh State of the Judiciary address to the state’s new Governor Mike Braun and a joint session of the Indiana General Assembly. State leaders and more than 125 trial court judges from across the state filled the seats inside and outside the house chamber.…
Features
Bridging the Gaps
Indiana’s new jail management system tracks offenders from arrest through sentencing and supervision By Mary L. DePrez, Executive Director • Office of Court Technology Over the past two decades, Indiana courts, prosecutors, public defenders, and supervision agencies have transitioned to statewide systems that share and exchange critical data. These systems have improved efficiency and transparency…
Assisted Outpatient Treatment in Lake County
A collaborative effort by courts and treatment systems to improve outcomes for those in need of mental health treatment By Brittany Kelly, State Court Behavioral Health Administrator • Office of Behavioral Health Nationwide more than 70% of incarcerated individuals have at least one diagnosed mental illness, substance use disorder, or both. To address this, justice…
Modernizing Courts: Working smarter with a data warehouse
By Brendan O’Connor, Director of Data Governance and Analytics | Office of Innovationand Robert Rath, Chief Innovation Officer | Office of Innovation Indiana’s trial courts and the Office of Court Technology built a data gold mine with the statewide case management system. Bringing courts and their data together establishes the foundation for more advanced analysis…
Developments in Department of Labor Rule Application
By Heather R. Falks, General Counsel • Office of General Counsel Recent developments in wage and hour standards may impact wages for certain court employees. In April 2024, the Department of Labor finalized a rule (“Final Overtime Rule”) to increase compensation thresholds for overtime eligibility. The rule was set to take effect on July 1,…
Appointments, Awards, Events, & Other Highlights
Judicial Appointments Stephen Scheele Appointed to Court of Appeals Governor Eric Holcomb announced Lake County Superior Court Judge Stephen “Sam” Scheele as his next appointment to the Court of Appeals of Indiana, filling the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Terry Crone. Judge Scheele was a judge for the Lake County Superior Court since…