Indiana
Indiana Supreme Court decision moves Purdue Global Law School forward
Ruling allows Purdue Global Law School grads to apply for waivers to sit for Indiana bar exam
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Indiana Supreme Court has approved an amendment to Admission & Discipline Rule 13 that creates a path for Purdue Global Law School graduates to become eligible for the state’s bar exam.
The ruling, issued Thursday (Feb. 15), allows graduates of schools not accredited by the American Bar Association to petition for a waiver to take the Indiana bar exam. The ABA has long required a physical campus for accreditation. Now the state’s rules will allow a law school graduate who did not attend an ABA-approved school to apply for admission to the Indiana bar.
Indiana becomes the second state, after California, in which Purdue Global law graduates will be eligible, following a waiver application, for the bar exam immediately upon graduating.
Additional information
“We’re excited that there’s now a path for our students to become licensed lawyers in Indiana,” said Martin Pritikin, dean and vice president of Purdue Global Law School. “The ruling by the Indiana Supreme Court is a measure that will help the state, law students and schools like Purdue Global Law School in many ways. This is a big step for us and for others. For example, this would allow lawyers who completed their law studies internationally to apply for the bar exam waiver. Indiana is facing a lawyer shortage, particularly in rural areas, and this new rule can help address that.”
The new rule goes into effect July 1, 2024. The February 2025 bar exam marks the first time applicants will be eligible to petition for a waiver under Section 4 of the new rule.
This decision provides momentum for Purdue Global as the American Bar Association considers eliminating the requirement of a physical campus and allowing fully online law schools like Purdue Global to apply for provisional and then full ABA approval.
“It is clear that the pandemic was a watershed moment in the recognition of the power of online learning,” Pritikin said. “When done right, online law school can be just as good as — or better than — an in-person program in many respects.”
Currently, 24 Indiana residents are enrolled in Purdue Global Law School, and 20 graduates live in the state.
Launched in 1998, Purdue Global Law School was founded as the nation’s first fully online school. The online option provides students the flexibility to balance classes, work and family while being able to stay in their communities. Because Purdue Global Law School does not incur the costs of maintaining a physical campus, it is able to offer total program tuition for approximately one-third of the cost of traditional law schools.
About Purdue Global Law School
Purdue Global Law School is part of Purdue Global, the public, nonprofit, online school for working adults backed by Purdue University. Founded in 1998, Purdue Global Law School was the first to offer students a traditional law school program in an affordable, online format. For more information, please visit PurdueGlobalLawSchool.edu.
Writer: Adam Bartels, adam.bartels@purdueglobal.edu
Source: Martin Pritikin
Indiana
‘Foul play’ suspected in death investigation on Indiana-Ohio state line, Wayne County officials say
WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — Police are investigating the death of a person who died in the emergency department of Reid Health in Richmond.
Wayne County Coroner Brent Meadows was notified of the death Wednesday evening, according to a media release. Evidence has reportedly indicated that foul play is involved.
Officials believe the incident may have occurred in the area of the Petro Travel Center in New Paris, Ohio, just across the Indiana-Ohio state line.
The coroner’s office said the deceased person has been transported to the Miami Valley Regional Crime Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio, for a forensic autopsy and identification.
The office is still working the locate and identify the victim’s family.
This remains an active investigation.
News 8’s Michaela Springer contributed to this report.
Braden Smith spent four seasons with Purdue basketball proving all the power conference programs who overlooked him missed out.
Now the former Boilermaker point guard has a chance to do the same in the NBA.
Smith, a Westfield native, is headed to the Pacers after Indiana traded for him when the Chicago Bulls selected him with the 38th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, a source confirmed to IndyStar.
Smith is Purdue’s third draft pick in five years, joining lottery picks Jaden Ivey and Zach Edey among a group of now 11 NBA draft selections to play at Purdue under Matt Painter.
Here’s a look at Smith’s Purdue career and what he brings to the Pacers.
Before capping a career that includes two Big Ten regular season and two Big Ten Tournament championships, along with helping Purdue end a 44-year Final Four drought, Smith broke former Duke guard Bobby Hurley’s all-time NCAA assists record.
Along the way, Smith took home the 2025 Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard in a season where he also was the Big Ten Player of the Year. A two-time consensus first-team All-American, Smith finished his Purdue career eighth in career points (1,932), third in steals (249) and has the top three assist seasons in school history that helped add to his NCAA record total of 1,103.
Smith’s knock is his 5-foot-10 1/2 height measurement, but that didn’t deter him from being one of college basketball’s top players.
What Smith lacked in height, he made up for in basketball IQ. He’s lethal with a midrange jump shot and showcased an unblockable fadeaway that allowed him to shoot over lengthier defenders. He mastered manipulating defenses while playing with marquee big men the last four seasons.
His role in the NBA likely will be not require him to be the team’s primary playmaker immediately. Smith’s awareness of that fact pushed a more defensive-minded approach in preparation for the next level. At the NBA Draft Combine in May, Smith showed he’s capable of defending elite guards.
Smith is an elite competitor who never showed to shy away from the dirty work, which is something that can help him earn NBA minutes as a rookie while trying to find his footing in an unfamiliar backup role.
Nathan Baird and Sam King have the best Purdue sports coverage, and sign up for IndyStar’s Boilermakers newsletter.
The body of a 13-year-old boy was recovered from Lake Michigan during a multiple-day search near a beach in Michigan City, Indiana.
Officials did not provide further details.
A search has been underway since Monday night after witnesses reported seeing a child wearing red shorts enter the water.
Michigan City police said officers responded to a possible drowning just before 5:40 p.m. on Monday near Washington Park Beach.
Police said the child disappeared underwater just south of the lighthouse and did not resurface.
A search was initiated with dive efforts, a fishing boat, drone technology, and a medical helicopter deployed.
The Michigan City Fire Department said three divers suffered minor injuries during the search and are being treated at Franciscan Health. Fire officials said divers encountered “challenging water conditions” before the search was suspended.
Officials have not identified the body recovered.
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