EDITORIAL: Order judges to obey merit selection law

The Indiana Supreme Court now has a lawsuit, rather than letters, to consider in deciding whether the next Lake Juvenile Court judge should be chosen by merit selection, as the law requires, or by transfer, as Lake County's judges hope. The high court must choose to follow the law.

EDITORIAL: Move court, but help move people

Testimony in last week's trial over moving the Lake Juvenile Court's Gary child support operations to Crown Point discussed how accessible these services are to the poor. It is a symptom of a larger problem in Lake County.

Lake County commissioners join dispute over court move

CROWN POINT | Lake County commissioners are joining a lawsuit to keep a Gary courtroom where thousands of child-support disputes are resolved annually from moving south to Crown Point.

Judge finds lawyer's objections to tax sale don't add up

CROWN POINT | A Merrillville lawyer is vowing to stop an upcoming Lake County treasurer's office tax sale or at least save his office from being auctioned off because its owners haven't paid taxes in 16 years.

Frey seals Democratic nomination for Lake County coroner

Political newcomer Merrilee Frey captured the Democratic nomination for Lake County coroner Tuesday in a race in which she secured high-powered endorsements from established party members.

Tax sale purchase pays off big

INDIANAPOLIS | It's not quite the Mega Millions jackpot, but the Indiana Court of Appeals on Friday affirmed a Lake County jury verdict awarding a Crown Point man $332,172 for 5.2 acres of Hammond land he purchased for $3,900 at a county tax sale.

Briar Ridge homeowners, members to buy country club

SCHERERVILLE | An investor group has signed an agreement to buy Briar Ridge Country Club from an entity that is under the direction of region businessman Donald Powers.

Gary mayoral candidate loses appeal

CROWN POINT | The Indiana Court of Appeals upheld last spring's decision by local elections and court officials to remove Derric Price from the field of Gary Democratic mayoral candidates.

EDITORIAL: Hold off on conservancy district OK

With the Gary City Council's endorsement of the Calumet Burns Conservancy District, the supporters of this plan could take it to the Lake Circuit Court judge for his review. That should not happen, and certainly not yet.

Democratic candidate restored to May 3 Gary mayoral ballot

CROWN POINT | A judge ruled Tuesday that a 10th Democrat will join the race for Gary mayor in the spring primary.

Gary council candidate returns to ballot

CROWN POINT | The Lake Circuit Court judge ordered county election officials to return a Gary woman to the May 3 primary race for the 5th District Gary City Council seat.

Gary mayoral candidate's rejection upheld

CROWN POINT | The Lake County elections board voted Monday to uphold its decision last week to remove Latanza Johnson from the May 3 Democratic Gary mayoral primary.

MARK KIESLING: Bring the last judges into the merit fold

Taking the selection of judges in Lake County out of the hands of voters has not always guaranteed the removal of politics from the process.

Lake courts, government offices to reopen Friday

CROWN POINT | Lake County government offices and courts remained closed for a second day to give crews more time to clear away more than 2 feet of snow that blanketed county roads, roofs and parking lots.

Court denies injunction in Sisters of St. Francis Health Systems free speech case

CROWN POINT | Lake Circuit Court Magistrate Richard McDevitt on Wednesday denied a request by Sisters of St. Francis Health Systems to impose an emergency restraining order against a Crown Point woman who had criticized treatment at one of its facilities.

Hospital asks court to silence woman's criticism of patient care

CROWN POINT | Sisters of St. Francis Health Services has filed a defamation suit against a Crown Point woman who e-mailed comments critical of patient care to family and friends.

Paras takes circuit court bench in a rout

CROWN POINT | Merrillville Town Court Judge George Paras handily defeated Highland attorney William Fine to replace retiring Lake Circuit Court Judge Lorenzo Arredondo.

George C. Paras

Editor's note: The Times inadvertently omitted the responses from one of the candidates for Lake Circuit Court judge in Sunday's election guide. Therefore, the responses from both candidates are published below for the voters' convenience and in fairness to the candidates.