The Speaker of the House of Representatives, B. Patrick Bauer, appointed two new members to the Indiana Public Defender Commission in November 2008: Representative Vernon Smith and Representative Greg Steuerwald. Representative Vernon G. Smith was appointed to replace Phil Hoy, a former representative from Evansville who chose not to run for reelection. Representative Smith represents House District 14, which i … [Read more...] about Speaker Bauer Names Two New Indiana Public Defender Commission Members
Clarification on Public Defender Expenditures
The Nov/Dec 2008 edition of the Indiana Court Times, in the "Highlights from the 2007 Indiana Judicial Service Report (JSR)" reported $15,896,397 as the total amount spent by counties on criminal indigent defense for 2007. This figure is an error, and the total amount spent should have been reported as $25,320,081. Even this latter figure, however, does not fully represent the total spent on criminal indigent … [Read more...] about Clarification on Public Defender Expenditures
Jane Spencer Craney
We are starting a new feature in Court Times called “Sidebar” that will highlight up close and personal a member of the Indiana Judiciary. Morgan Superior Court Judge Jane Spencer Craney is our first interview. She was first elected as Judge in November 1990 and in this most recent election she was elected to her fourth term on the bench. Prior to becoming a Judge she served two terms as Morgan County Prosecuting A … [Read more...] about Jane Spencer Craney
Getting the Show on the Road: JTAC's Speedy Project to Help DCS Comply with HEA 1001
In 2008, the Indiana General Assembly passed, and Governor Mitch Daniels signed into law, HEA 1001, a bill designed to provide property tax relief that also made sweeping changes to how payments are processed for juvenile services throughout the state. There have been several articles in the Indiana Court Times reporting on the effects of this bill on Indiana’s courts and probation departments. But there is another, b … [Read more...] about Getting the Show on the Road: JTAC's Speedy Project to Help DCS Comply with HEA 1001
Being a Judge in the Back Office
A judge makes decisions within the confines of the law, trusting his/her instincts, and almost always in solitude. It requires good intellect and a strong and caring heart to administer justice. When we think of judges, we picture a wise and courageous leader, clad in a robe, making decisions while sitting on the bench. Yet, even a fair, just and wise judge will be poorly serving the community and justice if the c … [Read more...] about Being a Judge in the Back Office