When courts are and are not obligated to provide interpreter services By Heather Falks, Deputy General Counsel and Manpreet Kaur, Language Access Director• Office of Judicial Administration Individuals have a constitutional right to access the courts [footnote 1] and essential to that access is their ability to understand the proceedings. Individuals with communication disabilities or limited English p … [Read more...] about Not Open to Interpretation
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Making Indiana’s Kids Safer by Combatting Human Trafficking
By Melissa Arvin, Family Violence Resource Attorney • Office of Court Services Children are being trafficked in every county in Indiana, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and under-reported offenses we face as a community. In an effort to ensure that individuals working with children recognize the signs of trafficking, the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Committee (CSEC) developed a screening … [Read more...] about Making Indiana’s Kids Safer by Combatting Human Trafficking
Guardianship as a Last Resort
Less restrictive alternatives balance need with independence By Nick Parker, Staff Attorney • Office of Court Services By now, you have likely heard about the California case in which Britney Spears successfully petitioned the court to remove her legal guardianship. This case sparked an interest in guardianship across the country, including a discussion of ways to support individuals without a need for formal … [Read more...] about Guardianship as a Last Resort
Supreme Court Hears Arguments at University of Indianapolis
On April 11, the Indiana Supreme Court visited the nearby campus of the University of Indianapolis to hear oral argument in Keller Mellowitz v. Ball State University, Board of Trustees of Ball State University, and State of Indiana. This case marked the 49th time the Court has heard arguments somewhere other than the Supreme Court Courtroom since 1994, providing students, media, and the public the opportunity to … [Read more...] about Supreme Court Hears Arguments at University of Indianapolis
Update on the Well-Being in Law Movement
By Terry Harrell, Executive Director • Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program 2016 introduced two groundbreaking studies on well-being in the legal profession: “The Prevalence of Substance Use and Other Mental Health Concerns” examined the profession as a whole,1 while “Suffering in Silence” focused exclusively on law students.2 These studies ignited the creation of the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being and … [Read more...] about Update on the Well-Being in Law Movement