The Marion County Judicial Selection Committee is beginning the process of selecting names to send to Governor Holcomb to fill a Republican vacancy on the Marion Superior Court. The vacancy will occur when Judge Lisa Borges retires on December 31, 2020.

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana has proposed revisions to Local Rule 6-1 – Extensions of Time. The proposed amendments are included in this post.

Indiana trial courts can now send text and email reminders, cancellations, and rescheduling notices to jurors. The Supreme Court’s Office of Court Technology added these enhancements to its Jury Management System, used by courts in 81 counties. 

As lawyers, many of our relationships are governed by our rules of professional conduct. For the most part, these rules place burdens, limits and duties on us. The judge-lawyer relationship, however, is governed by interlocking rules from both sides. In our practices, lawyers are limited in what we can say to a judge, as well as when and how we say it. We may really want to let the judge know what we think is going on in a case, or we may really want to know what the judge is thinking on an issue, but often can’t just say or ask what we want.

The proposed amendments affect LR49-TR79-223 Initial Request for Change of Judge, LR-TR-79-224 Appointment by Clerk, LR49-TR79-225 Acceptance, and LR49-TR3-200 Random Filing of Civil Cases. 

The nomination period has begun for the 2021 Board of Directors of the Indianapolis Bar Association, and Kelley Johnson of the Law Office of Kelley J. Johnson LLP  has been appointed to chair the effort. Johnson, who is a past president of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation, will lead a committee of members in selecting a slate of officers for the coming year.

Last week, the Indianapolis Bar Association notified its members that civil jury trials in the Marion Superior Court will begin the week of September 14, 2020.  Due to questions arising from the first notification, the court offers this additional clarification.

Marion Superior Court will commence major felony jury trials the week of August 24. Lower felony, misdemeanor and civil trials will begin the week of September 14.

The Judicial Conference Advisory Committees on Appellate, Bankruptcy, Civil, and Criminal Rules circulated to the bench, bar and public proposed amendments to their respective rules.

During a time that brings so much uncertainty, the stress of being an attorney – especially a litigator –  is certainly being amplified for many. Now more than ever it is important to take steps to check in and take steps to proactively better your mental health. Taking steps to better your mental health not only pays off in your personal life, but also your professional competency.