Justice Robert D. Rucker’s Legacy In January 2017, Justice Robert Rucker announced his retirement from the Indiana Supreme Court. His last day on the Court was May 12, 2017. Appointed by Governor Frank O’Bannon in 1999, Rucker was the Court’s longest-serving active Justice. As Indiana’s first African-American Court of Appeals judge (appointed in 1991) and its second African-American Supreme Court justice (appointed in … [Read more...] about Judicial Vacancy Process
Features
Canine Companions
Courthouse dogs join CASA programs to help kids in court The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program in Delaware County just added a new four-legged member to its staff. Frankie, a two-year old female black lab, started her job at the CASA program in April. Frankie is one of only two dogs in Indiana specifically trained to help ease the fears of children in courtrooms. Going to court is stressful for anyone, … [Read more...] about Canine Companions
Indiana Supreme Court forms Office of Admissions and Continuing Education
By order entered on January 26, 2017, the Supreme Court merged the two agencies that provide administrative support for the Indiana Board of Law Examiners (BLE) and the Indiana Commission on Continuing Legal Education (CLE) into a new Office of Admissions and Continuing Education (OACE). The order provides that the OACE will operate under the direction of an executive director “who shall supervise a staff created by t … [Read more...] about Indiana Supreme Court forms Office of Admissions and Continuing Education
Coalition for Court Access
In the spring of 2015, the Indiana Supreme Court appointed a 10-member Ad Hoc Assessment Team and charged them with examining the structure of the Indiana Pro Bono Commission, the Indiana Commission to Expand Access to Civil Legal Services, and the Committee on Unrepresented Litigants. The Assessment Team generated a report recommending merger of the three bodies into one entity with a more focused and comprehensive … [Read more...] about Coalition for Court Access
Celebrating Adoption Day
National Adoption Day photos reflect smiling faces, happy moms and dads, and lots of hugs. The Indiana Supreme Court in 2012 first authorized broadcast coverage of adoption proceedings in celebration of this special day. Since then, over 500 children have found their “forever families” in 23 Indiana counties on this special day. Participating judges celebrate the day to increase public awareness on the value of ado … [Read more...] about Celebrating Adoption Day