In December 2011, former Governor Mitch Daniels appointed a 15-member bicentennial commission to oversee the planning and execution of a statewide celebration for Indiana’s 200th birthday. Lt. Governor Becky Skillman and former Congressman Lee Hamilton served as the co-chairs. The Bicentennial Visioning Project (Project) is an endorsed project of the Indiana Bicentennial Commission engaging more than one hundred H … [Read more...] about 50 Big Ideas to Improve Indiana
Articles
Improving Juvenile Access to Justice
October was National Youth Justice Awareness Month. Even though juvenile arrests have declined in recent years, last year in Indiana there were over 18,000 new delinquency or status offense filings. Status offenses are those that would not be considered a crime if committed by an adult, such as tobacco possession. Many of these juvenile offenders cannot afford legal counsel. The Indiana Public Defender Council … [Read more...] about Improving Juvenile Access to Justice
Geoffrey Slaughter sworn in as member of Supreme Court
On August 11, colleagues, friends, and family filled the atrium outside the Indiana Supreme Court Courtroom to offer well-wishes and congratulations to the newest Justice of the Court – Geoffrey Slaughter. Justice Slaughter officially joined the Court in June, when he was sworn-in by Chief Justice Loretta Rush during a private ceremony. Justice Slaughter’s public swearing-in came three months after Governor Mike Pen … [Read more...] about Geoffrey Slaughter sworn in as member of Supreme Court
Foster youth receives award at CASA Conference
Katherinne Peraza, a foster youth from Child Advocates in Indianapolis, is the recipient of the first Akerman Academic Excellence Scholarship Award, established through an endowment by the law firm Akerman, LLP to help young adults achieve a post-secondary education. The scholarship was awarded to Katherinne at the 35th annual National GAL/CASA conference in National Harbor, Maryland. Her GAL advocate, Mark Bass, of … [Read more...] about Foster youth receives award at CASA Conference
Language Identification Card
Use this lifeline before calling Language Line A man walks into a court office, politely waits his turn, and then speaks in a language no one has ever heard. Now what? The police arrest a woman on suspicion of shoplifting. She is unable to read, write, or speak English. How will the judge conduct the initial hearing? In both of these situations, before calling Language Line or using an in-person language interpreter, … [Read more...] about Language Identification Card