Under Indiana’s Red Flag Law, when a law enforcement officer seizes a firearm from an individual whom the law enforcement officer believes to be dangerous without first obtaining a warrant, the officer must submit an affidavit to a court describing why the officer believes the individual is dangerous. If the court finds probable cause exists to believe the individual is dangerous, the court shall order the law enforcement agency to retain the firearm. To sustain the dangerousness finding, the State must prove, at a hearing, by clear and convincing evidence material facts demonstrating the individual is dangerous.
Criminal
Spells v. State, No. 23S-CR-232, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind., Jan. 30, 2024).
The statutory cash bail agreement permits application of cash bail to the whole of a defendant’s public-defender costs. However, a court may retain cash bail to pay most other fines, costs, and fees only after considering the defendant’s ability to pay.
Bradley v. State, No. 22A-CR-2317, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Jan. 31, 2024).
When a trial court sua sponte orders a competency evaluation for a defendant, the early trial period is tolled, and the delay is chargeable to neither the State nor the defendant. Once the competency evaluation is complete and the 70-day early trial period resumes, the State must fulfill its affirmative duty to bring the defendant to trial.
State v. Woodworth, No. 22A-CR-2557, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Jan. 23, 2024).
When a trial court overturns a jury’s verdict, Trial Rule 59(J) requires special findings of fact upon each material issue or element of the claim or defense upon which a new trial is granted. When a court grants a new trial without making specific findings, the remedy on appeal is to reinstate the jury verdict.
Konkle v. State, No. 23A-CR-783, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Jan. 24, 2024).
The eggshell-skull doctrine does not apply in cases of murder or voluntary manslaughter. The relevant statutes require that the defendant either must intend to kill the victim or know that his actions will likely result in the victim’s death, which is inconsistent with the proposition that you take your victim as you find them.