Justia Indiana Supreme Court Opinion Summaries

The Supreme Court reversed the the order of the trial court granting summary judgment in favor of the Gary Housing Authority and dismissing allegations that the Housing Authority's notice of its administrative taking of 624 Broadway, LLC's property was constitutionally deficient, holding that the deficient notice was not harmless.The Housing Authority only provided notice of its taking of 624 Broadway's property by publication, despite knowing how to contact the LLC. After 624 Broadway unsuccessfully requested the Housing Authority to postpone the meeting to its appraiser could assess the property 624 Broadway brought this complaint, alleging that the Housing Authority violated its federal due process rights. The trial court granted summary judgment for the Housing Authority. The Supreme Court reversed, holding (1) the Housing Authority's constitutionally deficient notice to 624 Broadway was prejudicial; and (2) 624 Broadway was entitled to a damages hearing. View "624 Broadway, LLC v. Gary Housing Authority" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court dismissed this action in which Plaintiffs challenged the City of Gary's local ordinance designed to protect the rights of immigrants, holding that Plaintiffs lacked standing to bring this action.Plaintiffs, four Indiana residents, challenged the "welcoming ordinance" adopted by Gary in 2017 establishing its commitment to protecting the rights of immigrants, seeking a declaration that four sections of the ordinance violated Ind. Code 5-2-18.2 and enjoining the city from enforcing those sections. The trial court entered summary judgment for Plaintiffs. The Supreme Court remanded the case to the trial court with instructions to dismiss the action for lack of standing, holding that where Plaintiffs alleged no injury but instead argued that neither statutory nor public standing requires an injury, Plaintiffs did not meet constitutional requirements for conferring standing. View "City Of Gary v. Nicholson" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's convictions of six offenses, including unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon in violation of Ind. Code 35-50-2-8, holding that none of Defendant's allegations of error required reversal.On appeal, Defendant argued that the trial court erred in giving Preliminary Instruction 18, and that the error was fundamental. The court of appeals agreed and reversed. The Supreme Court granted transfer and affirmed, holding (1) Defendant invited any error that arose from Preliminary Instruction 18, which precluded relief on direct appeal; (2) the traffic stop leading to Defendant's arrest did not violate the Fourth Amendment; and (3) Defendant waived his last allegation of error. View "Miller v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court reversed in part and affirmed in part the order of the trial court finding that HEA-1123 is constitutional, holding that Governor Eric J. Holcomb was not procedurally barred from seeking declaratory relief on the constitutionality of House Enrolled Act 1123 (HEA-1123) and that the law is unconstitutional.HEA-1123, which was passed during the COVID-19 pandemic, authorizes the General Assembly to commence an "emergency session" under certain conditions through a simple resolution. The Governor vetoed the bill, finding it unconstitutional. The General Assembly overrode the Governor's veto, and the law went into effect. The Governor filed suit. The trial court found the HEA-1123 was constitutional. The Supreme Court reversed, holding (1) HEA-1123 violates Ind. Const. art. III, 1; and (2) by authorizing the Legislative Council to set an emergency session at a time when the General Assembly was not in session, HEA-1123 infringed on constitutional authority vested only in the Governor. View "Holcomb v. Bray" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court reversed Defendant's conviction of one count of felony child molestation, holding that the trial court denied Defendant's requests for a continuance.An impermissible local rule and an improperly issued protective order prevented Defendant's defense attorney from obtaining a copy of the alleged victim's interview. Further, the trial court denied Defendant's requests for a continuance when the state disclosed extensive new evidence the day before trial in order to investigate the new allegations and reconstruct trial strategy. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that the trial court (1) erred in prohibiting Defendant from obtaining a copy of the interview before trial, but reversal was not required on this basis; and (2) abused its discretion by denying Defendant's continuance request, and the error was prejudicial. View "Ramirez v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the post-conviction court concluding that Defendant did not receive ineffective assistance of counsel at sentencing, holding that Defendant did not receive ineffective assistance of counsel.Defendant was convicted of murdering his brother when Defendant was seventeen years old. Defendant sought post-conviction relief alleging that he received ineffective assistance of counsel at sentencing. The post-conviction court denied relief. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that Defendant did not meet his burden to show that counsel's performance fell objectively below professional norms or that he was prejudiced by any of counsel's alleged errors. View "Conley v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the trial court granting Defendant's motion to dismiss the charges brought against him and finding that Ind. Code 35-45-4-8 violated the state and federal constitutions, holding that the State alleged an offense and that the statute is constitutional.Defendant captured cell phone video of his girlfriend performing oral sex on him and then sent it to another person. Defendant was charged under section 35-45-4-8, which criminalizes the non-consensual distribution of an "intimate image." Defendant filed a motion to dismiss, arguing that the statute was unconstitutional on free speech grounds. The trial court granted the motion, finding the statute unconstitutional. The Supreme Court reversed, holding (1) the State properly charged Defendant with violating section 35-45-4-8; and (2) the statute does not violate either the free interchange clause of the Indiana Constitution or the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. View "State v. Katz" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the post-conviction court concluding that Defendant's counsel was not ineffective during his criminal proceedings, holding that counsel provided constitutionally effective assistance.Defendant, who was fifteen years old at the time, was charged as an adult and convicted of murder as an accomplice with a gang enhancement after his friend shot and killed a toddler while firing on a rival during a gang dispute. Defendant sought post-conviction relief, alleging that his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance. The post-conviction court denied relief. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that Defendant failed to demonstrate that his counsel was ineffective. View "Bradbury v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the trial court denying Defendant's motion to suppress on the grounds that the affidavit supporting the search warrant failed to specify the deputies' "training and experience" in detecting the odor of raw marijuana, holding that the trial court did not err.Defendant was charged with dealing in marijuana and possession of marijuana. Defendant filed a motion to suppress, arguing that the search violated his constitutional rights because the affidavit failed to specify the deputies' training and experience in detecting a specific smell. The trial court denied the motion to suppress. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding, as an issue of first impression, that trained and experienced law enforcement officers who affirm that they detect the odor of raw marijuana based on their training and experience may establish probable cause without providing further details on their qualifications to recognize this specific odor. View "Bunnell v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the post-conviction court denying Appellant's petition for post-conviction relief raising challenges to the effectiveness or his trial and appellate counsel, holding that Appellant's claims failed, and he was not entitled to relief.Appellant was convicted of three counts of murder and three counts of criminal recklessness and was sentenced to death. Appellant later filed a petition for post-conviction relief, alleging several claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel. The post-conviction court denied the petition. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) Appellant was not entitled to relief on his claims that his trial counsel were constitutionally ineffective at all phases of Appellant's trial; (2) appellate counsel were not ineffective for failing to raise fundamental-error challenges on direct appeal concerning certain instructions; and (3) Appellant was not entitled to relief on his freestanding challenges to the post-conviction court's rulings. View "Isom v. State" on Justia Law