Indiana Court Times

Published by the Indiana Office of Judicial Administration

Features

State Public Defender Uses Videoconferencing to Reduce Costs and Improve Services

Videoconferencing equipment was installed at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility in Carlisle in partnership with the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) and the Indiana Office of Technology (IOT). The equipment resembles a pay phone and is designed specifically for correctional use. It features a video screen and camera (similar to a web cam) that transmits audio and video in real time. All the controls … [Read more...] about State Public Defender Uses Videoconferencing to Reduce Costs and Improve Services

Where there's smoke, there's… water?

Thanks to the quick and knowledgeable responses by Tippecanoe Clerk Christa Coffey and her staff, no records of permanent value were lost as a result of a fire in the courthouse annex. The fire—deemed “suspicious” by the Lafayette Fire Department—occurred in the overnight hours of May 3rd and May 4th. Clerk's office staff were concerned about the impact of the fire and smoke on the records, but the major damage was … [Read more...] about Where there's smoke, there's… water?

Helpful Resources for Courts Drowning in Domestic Relations Cases

Judges with domestic relations jurisdiction are well aware of the time and resources required to manage family law caseloads, particularly the ever-increasing numbers of cases in which the parties appear without lawyers. This article discusses some resources which are available to help courts manage domestic relations caseload and improve outcomes for litigants. Since 2003, courts have been authorized to fund local … [Read more...] about Helpful Resources for Courts Drowning in Domestic Relations Cases

Best Practices: What to do with the Unprepared Attorney

[Editor's Note: This is the third in a series of four articles from the Ethics and Professionalism Committee of the Indiana Judicial Conference. The author thanks and acknowledges the contributions of those who attended the session at the September, 2010 Judicial Conference in Indianapolis and contributed to the “Best Practices” suggestions related here.] One way judges can increase courtroom productivity is to ass … [Read more...] about Best Practices: What to do with the Unprepared Attorney