In May 2012, the Marion County Small Claims Courts Task Force (“Task Force”) issued a report describing serious problems in the management and procedures of the county’s nine small claims courts. This report recommended a number of reform efforts—some of which could be accomplished by local court rule, and others which required legislative action. Before this report was issued, the Marion County Circuit Court created … [Read more...] about Improved but not perfect: Marion County Small Claims Courts two years later
Articles
Indiana Probation Standards revised effective July 1st
The Judicial Conference of Indiana Board of Directors voted unanimously at its March 2014 meeting to approve revisions to the Indiana Probation Standards. The revisions mark the first significant changes to the Probation Standards since 2001 and become effective on July 1st. The Probation Officers Advisory Board worked on the revisions for two years, with an eye toward bringing the standards in line with … [Read more...] about Indiana Probation Standards revised effective July 1st
Chief Justice Dickson Establishes Indiana Committee to Study Evidence-Based Pretrial Release
A newly-established committee of the Supreme Court is working to help Indiana courts implement evidence-based practices for pretrial detention. In his order creating the Indiana Committee to Study Evidence-Based Pretrial Release, Chief Justice Dickson described its purpose: Research is being done in the field of pre-trial release from detention in the criminal justice process. Evidence-based risk assessment tools … [Read more...] about Chief Justice Dickson Establishes Indiana Committee to Study Evidence-Based Pretrial Release
On Your Mark, Get Set…Go?
The Ethics of Judicial Campaigns: Part 1 (see Part 2) A whirlwind of activity, the pulse of adrenaline, and general excitement (and despair) loom in the air—it’s the change of season. Racing, you say? No, it’s judicial campaign season. With the primary elections approaching, I have received an increasing number of questions about judicial elections and campaigns. Because the questions often are recurring, I thought a … [Read more...] about On Your Mark, Get Set…Go?
Judicial Clerkships for Recently Admitted Attorneys
At the fall 2013 Indiana Judicial Conference, Court of Appeals Judges Margret Robb and Patricia Riley informed trial court judges that together with Indiana’s law schools they had created a Judicial Law Clerk Program to assist new law school graduates and trial court judges. The law schools will identify recent law school graduates who are seeking full-time employment and pair them with one of the participating state … [Read more...] about Judicial Clerkships for Recently Admitted Attorneys