Regarding whether a non-party news organization can be compelled to disclose in a defamation lawsuit the identity of an anonymous commenter, the Court of Appeals adopts a modified Dendrite test requiring the plaintiff to produce prima facie evidence to support only those elements of the cause of action that are not dependent on the commenter’s identity.
Hampton v. State, No. 84S04-1103-PC-161, __ N.E.2d __ (Ind., Feb. 14, 2012).
When the evidence of the actus reus of the crime is entirely circumstantial, an instruction is required that “[i]n determining whether the guilt of the accused is proven beyond a reasonable doubt, you should require that the proof be so conclusive and sure as to exclude every reasonable theory of innocence.” Pattern Instruction on the topic inappropriately has the jury rather than the judge determine whether evidence is all circumstantial, and mens rea evidence should not be subject to the special instruction. In this case, DNA evidence would appropriately have been considered as circumstantial.
Sanjari v. State, No. 20S03-1105-CR-268, __M N.E.2d __ (Ind., Feb. 16, 2012).
“Indiana Code Section 35-46-1-5 permits a separate class D felony conviction for nonsupport of each dependent child, but only one such offense may be enhanced to a class C felony where the unpaid support for one or more of such children is $15,000 or more.”
State v. Holtsclaw, No. 49A02-1108-CR-743, __ N.E.2d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Feb. 16, 2012).
State cannot appeal the denial of a motion to correct error, so that here motion to correct aimed at successful motion to suppress could not be appealed and appeal of suppression motion itself was untimely.
Bloomington Magazine, Inc. v. Kiang, No. 53A05-1012-SC-790, ___ N.E.2d ___ (Ind. Ct. App., Feb. 13, 2012).
The professional relationship between the trial court judge and attorney who served as the chairman of the judge’s election committee was not so remote in time so as to dispel the appearance of an impropriety such that a reasonable person would have a rational basis for doubting the judge’s impartiality.