Practitioners’ Corner
Porter County Lawyer s Affected by Technology Changes in Indiana Courts
After being in the works for nearly ten (10) years, the Indiana Supreme Court announced Wednesday that it will be requiring electronic filing in all appellate cases and in some county superior and circuit courts sometime within the next sixty (60) days. (Read more here: Appellate pleadings, motions to be put online sometime in next 60 days). … Continue reading Porter County Lawyer s Affected by Technology Changes in Indiana Courts
Read MoreIndiana Supreme Court Headed to Portage, Indiana!
In its Traveling Oral Arguments program, the Indiana Supreme Court has selected Portage High School for its oral argument on October 30, 2015. (See official in.gov posting here.) Oral arguments in a particular case focus on the legal issues surrounding the controversy between the parties, and are usually presented after the case has been fully … Continue reading Indiana Supreme Court Headed to Portage, Indiana!
Read MoreLoretta Rush Named First Woman Chief Justice of Indiana Supreme Court
In a somewhat surprising and much anticipated move, the justices of the Indiana Supreme Court voted today to name Justice Loretta Rush the first woman to the position of Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, succeeding Chief Justice Dickson after nearly a year in that position. (See Indiana Law Blog article here.) I think many … Continue reading Loretta Rush Named First Woman Chief Justice of Indiana Supreme Court
Read MoreLegal Formalism vs. Legal Realism: The Law and the Human Condition
It has long been said that, “A good lawyer knows the law; a great lawyer knows the judge.” This saying could not be more true in the everyday practice of law, but perhaps not for the reason most people first think of. In my experience, judges rarely rule based upon particular relationships or preferences for … Continue reading Legal Formalism vs. Legal Realism: The Law and the Human Condition
Read MoreEtzler & Associates, LLP is Seeking a Legal Assistant/Paralegal
SFT Lawyers is looking to add the right person to our exceptional legal team! This is an entry level position, and prior experience is not necessary. A positive attitude, strong organization skills, customer service skills and dependability are a must. Someone who is a quick learner and self-starter is a plus. Duties include typing, answering … Continue reading Etzler & Associates, LLP is Seeking a Legal Assistant/Paralegal
Read MoreYour Right to Not Be Searched is Sacred — Protect Your Fourth Amendment Right
From the creation of our Democracy, it was one of the most fundamental and important concepts that the government cannot search your person or effects only in the most limited circumstances. Citizens have the right to refuse the government to search their persons, homes, vehicles, and property unless certain requirements are met. In Indiana, this … Continue reading Your Right to Not Be Searched is Sacred — Protect Your Fourth Amendment Right
Read MoreInjecting Common Sense into the Porter County Jail Overcrowding Problem
Jail overcrowding has been a longstanding problem in Porter County over recent years. Most recently, the Sheriff, David Lain, pleads with the County to open, and consequently fund, the third pod of our 3-pod jail facility. (See Northwest Indiana Times article, “Porter County Sherriff Again Urging Response to Jail Overcrowding” 2 May 2012; Post-Tribune article, … Continue reading Injecting Common Sense into the Porter County Jail Overcrowding Problem
Read MoreIndiana General Assembly Passes Law Designed to Renew Right of Self-Defense
In the wake of the Trayvon Martin shooting, the issue of “self-defense” is now capturing nationwide attention. However, it was already a fairly hot topic in the Indiana legal community following the 2011 case of Barnes v. State. In that case, the Indiana Supreme Court held that citizens no longer have a right to reasonably … Continue reading Indiana General Assembly Passes Law Designed to Renew Right of Self-Defense
Read MoreNew Indiana Law Allows Reduction of Class D Felonies
In a February Article, we wrote that a new felony reduction bill had passed in the Indiana House. The bill moved on to the Senate, and after some modifications it was signed into law by the Governor on March 15th. As expected, the statute allows courts to reduce non-violent, non-sexual Class D Felony convictions to … Continue reading New Indiana Law Allows Reduction of Class D Felonies
Read MoreNew Indiana Alcohol Law Offers a More Reasonable Perspective
For the longest time, Indiana has provided an arcane system of overly broad and ambiguously defined alcohol laws. (See SFTlaw Article, Indiana Senate Votes to Restrict Public Intoxication Law by Attorney Jacob Blackstone.) Unfortunately, the law in question did not pass the Indiana General Assembly. What did pass, however, has been coined as the “Lifeline … Continue reading New Indiana Alcohol Law Offers a More Reasonable Perspective
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