Satellite TV trucks and reporters waving microphones circle your courthouse like a calf-roper’s lasso at a rodeo. Get ready—you are presiding over a “notorious” trial. The time to think about how to handle such a trial should be long before the reporters arrive, and with a little thoughtful planning, you can successfully balance a defendant’s right to a fair trial with the rights of a free press. Judge Christopher Bur … [Read more...] about Morgan County Courts: Their Experience with a High Profile Case
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Media Management for Notorious Trials
When David J. Remondini traded his reporter’s notebook for a legal pad, he brought his media experience with him as a new member of the bar. Indiana judges have found invaluable this merger of journalism and law. He has exhibited a special talent for assisting judges presiding over trials in the media spotlight. Most recently he acted as media spokesman for Judge Christopher Burnham, Morgan Superior Court 2, in the … [Read more...] about Media Management for Notorious Trials
2008 Indiana General Assembly: Legislation Impacting the Judiciary
The even numbered years are scheduled for the “short” sessions of the Indiana Legislature. The past session may have been short, but it was historic in many ways. Significant property tax relief was enacted for the first time since 1973. The state will be picking up the tab on juvenile services expenses traditionally the responsibility of local governments. Judge Lynn Murray has a detailed article on this topic on pag … [Read more...] about 2008 Indiana General Assembly: Legislation Impacting the Judiciary
Electronic Tax Warrant Registry: Easing the Burden of Circuit Court Clerks
Occasionally people may fail to pay their state taxes due on income, sales, withholding or unemployment compensation. The Indiana Department of Revenue (IDOR) attempts to collect by giving the individual notice of the delinquent taxes, talking to and sometimes meeting with the taxpayer, and even by working out a payment plan. When these efforts are not successful, IDOR issues a tax warrant and files it with the Clerk … [Read more...] about Electronic Tax Warrant Registry: Easing the Burden of Circuit Court Clerks
Adding CourTools to your Judicial Toolbox
Tools are wonderful aren’t they? As one of the two Court Analysts for the Division of State Court Administration, I use tools to help me in my job analyzing court-submitted data. Sometimes, I only need a pad of paper and pencil, or a basic calculator, to do my job. At other times, my sophisticated computer helps generate formulas in an Excel document. Recently, the National Center for State Courts presented a con … [Read more...] about Adding CourTools to your Judicial Toolbox