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Indiana Court Times

Published by the Indiana Office of Judicial Administration

You are here: Home / Articles / Cover Stories / Night court in session

Night court in session

April 23, 2024

Lawmakers and their staffs fill the courtroom during oral arguments as the justices preside over the hearing from the bench.

On February 19, nearly 40 lawmakers and 25 legislative staffers made the walk down the third-floor hall of the Statehouse from the House and Senate chambers to the Supreme Court chambers. They joined media, court staff, and others for a historic event in a packed courtroom—the first Night Court for Legislators.

During the 2024 State of the Judiciary, Chief Justice Loretta Rush extended an invitation to lawmakers and their staff to join the Supreme Court for an evening oral argument. Typically, the court holds a few arguments a year outside Indianapolis. In this instance, Chief Justice Rush thanked lawmakers for taking the time to attend and pointed out the opportunity to “see some of the work you do, because tonight’s going to be about statutory construction.”

Before arguments began, Senate President pro tempore Rodric Bray provided case background and House Speaker, Representative Todd Huston, gaveled court into session. Guests heard oral argument in Angela Y. Smith and Dylan Williams and $11,180 in United States Currency v. State of Indiana (23S-MI-345), a civil forfeiture dispute concerning whether the state can seize cash found during the search of a person on parole without first proving it was connected to a crime.

The argument included discussion of what the legislature defined and what was left to the court to decide. At the conclusion, Senator Bray gaveled court out of session and Chief Justice Rush thanked the arguing lawyers, “it can’t be easy with the legislators who actually worked on the statute right there.” Chief Justice Rush provided an explanation on next steps including how the members of the court will discuss the case, vote, assign a justice to write the case, and hand down the opinion. Attendees enjoyed a reception on the third floor after the argument.

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