[Editor's Note: This is the third in a series of four articles from the Ethics and Professionalism Committee of the Indiana Judicial Conference. The author thanks and acknowledges the contributions of those who attended the session at the September, 2010 Judicial Conference in Indianapolis and contributed to the “Best Practices” suggestions related here.] One way judges can increase courtroom productivity is to ass … [Read more...] about Best Practices: What to do with the Unprepared Attorney
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Judicial Hiring and Administrative Appointments Revisited
Some rules of conduct are worth repeating. This is one of them. Generally, it is not a good idea for a judge to hire a family member or friend as a court employee or to appoint them to an administrative position. There are a number of practical reasons for this view, including that the Indiana Code of Judicial Conduct requires judges to make hiring and appointment decisions in a fair and impartial … [Read more...] about Judicial Hiring and Administrative Appointments Revisited
Fostering Futures: A Program for Older Foster Youth
There is little hope for a good future for foster youth who age out of the foster care system without a permanent family. These young people often drop out of school, become unemployed, homeless, or end up incarcerated. Aging out of foster care without a permanent home is the highest risk outcome for a foster youth. Nationally, about 25,000 young adults between the ages of 18 and 21 leave foster care each year. In … [Read more...] about Fostering Futures: A Program for Older Foster Youth
Hon. Judith A. Stewart
This is the fourteenth of our Court Times articles that highlight up close and personal a member of the Indiana Judiciary. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Judith A. Stewart is our judge featured in this issue. Following law school, she accepted a one year clerkship for a federal judge, The Honorable Harold Baker, in Danville, Illinois, then returned to Indianapolis to practice law in general civil litigation with … [Read more...] about Hon. Judith A. Stewart
Indiana's New Risk Assessment Tools: What You Should Know
Milestone Marked in Evidence-Based Sentencing Practices The implementation of new risk/needs assessment systems for Indiana’s juvenile and criminal justice systems marked an important milestone during 2010-2011. These tools are designed to provide Indiana’s courts with information about an offender’s potential risks and needs, allowing trial courts to provide appropriate sentences, supervision and treatment services. … [Read more...] about Indiana's New Risk Assessment Tools: What You Should Know