GUEST COMMENTARY: Defending state’s authority is AG’s obligation

The law of the land recognizes the authority of states to license marriage. The majority of states, including Indiana, provide a marriage license only to a man and woman while nine states also allow same-sex couples to receive a license to marry.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Why Indiana's AG is weighing in on gay marriage

Why does the Indiana Attorney General have to be involved in the definition-of-marriage cases before the U.S. Supreme Court? It’s a fair question I have been asked since the Supreme Court announced Dec. 7 it would hear two marriage-definition cases, potentially setting the stage for a landma…

GUEST COMMENTARY: State AGs are chief defenders of federalism

State attorneys general have expanded their responsibilities for protecting state residents since the early 1990s, when they targeted major tobacco companies for inflicting harm on the public and state treasuries alike. Ever since the national tobacco settlement, residents have expected thei…

GUEST COMMENTARY: Criminal justice must remain nonpartisan

During the primary election season there was much discussion regarding whether bipartisanship is a positive or negative attribute as it relates to the work of the U.S. Congress.

GUEST COMMENTARY: The constitutional case against the Affordable Care Act

The U.S. Supreme Court on March 26 will begin three days of hearings with six hours of oral argument on the constitutional challenge Indiana and 25 other states filed against sections of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, often referred to as "Obamacare." This historical lawsuit…

GUEST COMMENTARY: Legislature must decide on State Fair compensation

Hoosiers' hearts go out to everyone who lost loved ones or was injured in the Aug. 13 Indiana State Fair stage collapse. It's still too early to determine the cause or to assign all aspects of legal liability, but the summer tragedy does underscore the position of the state as a sovereign entity.

GUEST COMMENTARY: High court review is of high importance

The U.S. Supreme Court announced it will hear 5 1/2 hours of oral argument on the lawsuit brought by 26 states, including Indiana, that challenges the constitutionality of the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

GUEST COMMENTARY: In federalism, state, feds limit each other's power

Today marks my 10th year of service for the people of Indiana working in the office of the attorney general. But my career in service to the people of Indiana began much earlier, in 1982, working for then-Senator Dan Quayle in Washington and later in the Bush-Quayle White House as an assista…

GUEST COMMENTARY: Public access seminar supports open government

To gain and maintain the trust of the public, government must be open and transparent in the way it conducts the public's business. If government officials huddle behind closed doors or refuse to release public records, they won't enjoy the public's trust. And trust is a necessity to govern.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Trust RDA to guard East Chicago funds

At the Jan. 20 meeting of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority board, I presented my case for the creation of a trusteeship that would oversee the millions of dollars in casino revenue that are intended for the sole benefit of the citizens of East Chicago.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Supporting the rule of law in Mexico

When blessed with the justice system we are privileged to enjoy in Indiana and the United States, it is easy to take for granted the freedoms, rights and protections embodied in our founding principles such as our Constitution. One need only look south to our neighbors in Mexico to see the s…

GUEST COMMENTARY: All nursing home surveys thoroughly investigated

An Aug. 24 article about nursing home administrators might alarm those who live in Indiana nursing homes or who have loved ones who do.

GUEST COMMENTARY: AG answers questions about health care lawsuit

Since my decision that Indiana would join the multi-state legal challenge to the new federal health care law, many Hoosiers have called or e-mailed my office with questions. Let me now explain why Indiana had to join the challenge.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Here's why RDA opinion wasn't issued sooner

Two recent editorials in The Times commented on the legal advisory opinion issued by my office regarding the statutory authority of Porter County to withdraw from the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority. One editorial on Sept. 4 praised the legal opinion while the other on Sept.…