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.
Appeals
Ping v. Inman, No. 23A-CT-251, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Jan. 31, 2024).
A trial court should hold an evidentiary hearing on the issue of juror misconduct if there is a possibility of juror bias.
In re N.E., No. 23A-JC-996, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Jan. 31, 2024).
A litigant’s failure to appear at a hearing should be addressed using the indirect contempt procedure which requires a rule to show cause and a hearing. The trial court erred by relying upon information obtained from the drug testing facility by its court reporter without her testimony under oath.
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.