The focus of this article is on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the obligations of judges to all persons who use court services and who need accommodation to do so. The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) for many years has made enforcement of the ADA a major priority. A significant part of the DOJ’s focus is on compliance by state and local governments. Type in “ada.gov” on your search engine and … [Read more...] about Americans with Disabilities Act and the Code of Judicial Conduct
Columns
Judicial Oversight in Domestic Violence Cases
If you are a judicial officer reading this, chances are you’ve issued an order or two in your career. You did so with the belief that the parties involved would obey those court orders, right? One way to find out if someone is complying with an order is to wait for the filing of notices of violations, such as contempt proceedings or probation violations. And, if there are no filings, that means the party is complying … [Read more...] about Judicial Oversight in Domestic Violence Cases
Speak when you are angry & you will make the best speech you'll ever regret
The Ethics of Judicial Campaigns: Part 2 (see Part 1) One of the hottest topics these days in judicial elections is campaign speech. As judicial elections become more heated, so too does the campaign rhetoric. It is important to remember, however, that judicial elections are different than other elections. Judicial candidates certainly maintain a first amendment right to express ideas during their campaigns. … [Read more...] about Speak when you are angry & you will make the best speech you'll ever regret
Hon. Lynne Elise Ellis
This is the twenty-ninth of our Court Times articles that highlight up close and personal a member of the Indiana Judiciary. Martin Circuit Court Judge Lynne Ellis is our judge featured in this issue. She received her undergraduate degree from Oakland City University and her law degree from Indiana University Maurer School of Law (Bloomington) in 1999. Following graduation from law school, she joined her step-father, … [Read more...] about Hon. Lynne Elise Ellis
Children Who Witness Violence
I once heard a judge compare her civil protection order docket to an emergency room—especially the ex parte cases. What an apt comparison! Judges and court staff often deal with people who have been physically, mentally, and emotionally traumatized when they consider ex parte protection orders. Violence of any kind is traumatic to human beings, and children, who lack the experience and coping skills of adults, are a … [Read more...] about Children Who Witness Violence