By Leslie Dunn, State Director of GAL/CASA | Office of Court Services On March 4 (before the pandemic required social distancing), over 400 Court Appointed Special Advocate and Guardian Ad Litem volunteers and staff gathered at the Statehouse to celebrate 30 years of best-interest advocacy for abused and neglected children and to thank the legislature for their ongoing support. Event speakers included Chief … [Read more...] about State Office of GAL/CASA Celebrates 30 Years of Child Advocacy at Statehouse
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2020 Legislative Session Highlights
By Amanda R. Wishin, Research Attorney | Indiana Office of Court Services This year’s short legislative session addressed a couple larger policy issues: the legal smoking age increased to 21 years old (S.E.A. 1, P.L. 49) and texting and driving became illegal (H.E.A. 1070, P.L. 100). All bills are effective on July 1, 2020, unless otherwise noted. The following are the top changes of interest for judicial o … [Read more...] about 2020 Legislative Session Highlights
Disciplinary Commission Formal Advisory Opinion #1-20: Third Party Comments On Lawyer's Social Media
By G. Michael Witte ׀ Executive Director, Disciplinary Commission If you use social media, are you attentive to what others post on your page? If someone should post a message or link that is vulgar, racially callous, intimidating, or misogynistic, do you tacitly own it if you do not remove it? Several social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) allow others to post public comments on a lawyer’s home page. Un … [Read more...] about Disciplinary Commission Formal Advisory Opinion #1-20: Third Party Comments On Lawyer's Social Media
Taking up the Torch: Amy Karozos assumes new role as State Public Defender
By David Sexton, Intern | Office of Communications, Education, and Outreach In Webb v. Baird, 6 Ind.13 (1854), over a century prior to the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963), the Indiana Supreme Court recognized the right to counsel of all persons facing incarceration who could not afford an attorney. Over the next 166 years, Indiana has built a robust system of public defense … [Read more...] about Taking up the Torch: Amy Karozos assumes new role as State Public Defender
The State of the Child
By Julie L. Whitman, MSW, Executive Director | Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana The Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana hosted the Indiana Youth Institute’s “State of the Child” presentation at the State House on February 25. The State of the Child has become an annual event to launch the most recent version of the Indiana KIDS COUNT Data Book. Every year IYI publis … [Read more...] about The State of the Child