By Lisa Manning, Indiana Office of Court Services Early this year, the founder of Miss Transgender America, Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien, was found dead in her home after being stabbed and beaten to death by her husband. In an interview with police, Mark Steele-Knudslien said he “snapped” after arguing with his wife. Intimate partner violence is as prevalent in the LGBTQ community as in heterosexual communities. 43% … [Read more...] about Intimate partner violence in the LGBTQ community
Columns
New IOCS Executive Director
Mary Willis, Chief Administrative Officer of the Indiana Supreme Court’s Office of Judicial Administration, announced that Indiana Office of Court Services (IOCS) Deputy Director Justin Forkner has been promoted to Executive Director. The position was previously held by Jane Seigel, who announced her well-deserved spring retirement after many years of dedicated and faithful service. Forkner, an Indianapolis native, g … [Read more...] about New IOCS Executive Director
Court family mourns loss
The Honorable Larry L. Ambler, Magistrate of the St. Joseph Circuit Court, died unexpectedly on February 14. He was 71 years old. A graduate of St. Joseph High School, University of Dayton, and the University of Notre Dame Law School, Magistrate Ambler was appointed magistrate in 2005. He also served as an attorney for the St. Joseph County Council, an assistant county attorney, a legal adviser to the St. Joseph … [Read more...] about Court family mourns loss
Judicial appointments
Jamie M. Groves was appointed as Judge of Huntington County Circuit Court, succeeding Judge Thomas M. Hakes who retired at the end of 2017. Groves served as chief deputy prosecutor in Huntington County, where he worked for the past 20 years. Prior to attending law school, Groves worked as a juvenile court probation officer and juvenile detention officer in Porter County. Kristen E. McVey was appointed as Judge of … [Read more...] about Judicial appointments
Judicial Selection & Disqualification
By Adrienne Meiring, Counsel, Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications Judges and judicial candidates necessarily must forge professional and social relationships with attorneys, business leaders, and public officials to become judges and to effectively improve the legal system. Questions sometimes emerge whether these contacts create an appearance of partiality when an attorney or party who supported a judge … [Read more...] about Judicial Selection & Disqualification