GUILTY IN - Willie Lee Smith Jr., 55, murdered during a meetup for sex, Flora, June, 2021 *2 Arrested*

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The Jennifer Dean appeal advanced to the Indiana Supreme Court, where the petition to transfer was denied.
"All Justices concur, except Rush, C.J., and Goff, J., who vote to grant the petition to transfer."

Leftridge talking to the judge is the last entry in his case.
12/11/2023Correspondence to/from Court Filed
Filed By: Leftridge, Tyrone
File Stamp: 12/07/2023
01/12/2024Order Issued
Order on ex parte communications entered, per form.
Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.
Noticed: Leftridge, Tyrone
Noticed: McLeland, Nicholas Charles
 
In the Brooks-Brown case, the motion for interlocutory appeal has been entered.
Here is the case #24A-CR-00627

It's complicated (IMO) with 4 parts. I'm numbering them by the way they appear in the appeal.
First off: A motion in limine is a pretrial motion asking that certain evidence be found inadmissible, and that it not be referred to or offered at trial.

This quote is from PT 4, giving a background on what this appeal is about:
"The order denied the State’s motion in limine seeking to preclude the admission of expert testimony regarding Brooks-Brown’s experience as a victim of sexual human trafficking. Brooks-Brown intends to use that evidence to challenge her mens rea for the charged crimes, but she has not asserted an insanity defense."

The quotes below are in Part 1 The judge allowed all of this in the first paragraph to be excluded but the attempt to exclude the expert testimony on sex trafficking was denied.
"The Court, being duly advised, GRANTS Defendant's Motion in Limine as it relates to Paragraphs A, B, C, D, and F.The Court, being duly advised, GRANTS State's Motion in Limine as it relates to Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.The Court, being duly advised, FINDS that lnd. Code 35-41-3-11 must be strictly construed. Accordingly, it has nothing to do with being human trafficking victim or the alleged facts in this case."

"Without similar controlling statute, the reasoning and analysis in this case would be similar to Barrett v. State, 675 N.E.2d 1112 (Ind. App. 1996) (Holding that evidence of battered woman's syndrome is admissible as to intent without the necessity of an insanity defense). As such, State's Motion in Limine as it relates to Paragraphs 6 and 7 is DENIED."
 
The Interlocutory Appeal was approved.
04/12/2024
Order Granting Motion for Interlocutory Appeal
Having reviewed the matter, the Court finds and orders as follows: 1. Appellant's Verified Motion to Accept Jurisdiction over Discretionary Interlocutory Appeal is granted. 2. Appellant is ordered to comply with Appellate Rule 14(B)(3). 3. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send this order to the parties, the trial court, and the Carroll Circuit and Superior Courts Clerk. 4. The Carroll Circuit and Superior Courts Clerk is directed to file this order under Cause Number 08C01-2106-MR-1, and, pursuant to Indiana Trial Rule 77(D), the Clerk shall place the contents of this order in the Record of Judgments and Orders. Riley, Vaidik, JJ., Robb, Sr.J., concur.
Judicial Officer: Altice, Robert R.
Party: State of Indiana
Serve: Brooks-Brown, Shianne
Serve: Rokita, Theodore Edward
Serve: Meilaender, Ellen Hope
Serve: Trial Clerk 08 - Carroll
Serve: Diener, Benjamin Asher
Serve: James, Lori S
File Stamp: 04/12/2024
 
Update on the interlocutory appeal
05/20/2024Notice of Completion of Clerk's Record
Transcript Complete Certificate of Service - Method Not Specified 05/20/24
05/20/2024Electronic Documents Received from Trial Court Clerk
Volumes of Transcripts - One (1) Volumes of Exhibits - One (1) Volumes of T/C - One (1) Received Electronically 05/20/24
 
Update: the State's brief has been filed.

06/19/2024Received Document
Receive Date: 06/18/24 Appellant's Brief - lacks appealed order.
06/19/2024Appendix Filed
Volumes of Appendices: Two (2) Public and Confidential Certificate of Service- Electronically Served 06/18/24
Attorney: Meilaender, Ellen Hope
Party: State of Indiana
06/19/2024Notice of Exclusion of Confidential Information
Certificate of Service- Electronically Served 06/18/24
Party: State of Indiana
06/19/2024
Brief - Appellant
Certificate of Service- Electronically Served 06/19/24
Attorney: Meilaender, Ellen Hope
Party: State of Indiana
06/19/2024Note
Appellant's Brief re-tendered before Notice of Defect issued.
 
The IA has been fully briefed and sent to the Court of Appeals.
If anyone has an interest in reading the briefs, enter this: 24A-CR-00627 into the link below.

ARGUMENT: Evidence about the effects of human trafficking should be admitted without the filing of an insanity defense.

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT
The trial was correct in finding that Ms. Brooks-Brown may present expert witness testimony regarding her experience as a victim of human trafficking. This evidence is admissible to discuss Ms. Brooks-Brown’s mental state because there is no law that requires notice of the defense. The insanity defense is not applicable here, as there is not a provision under insanity that qualifies for human trafficking. The trial court’s ruling should be affirmed.

07/19/2024
Brief - Appellee
Certificate of Service- Electronically Served 07/18/24
Attorney: James, Lori S
Party: Brooks-Brown, Shianne
07/26/2024
Brief - Appellant Reply
Certificate of Service- Electronically Served 07/26/24
Attorney: Meilaender, Ellen Hope
Party: State of Indiana
07/29/2024
Case Fully Briefed
Oral Argument Requested: No
FB Date: 07/29/2024
07/29/2024Transmitted to Court of Appeals
 
Update: No oral argument was requested but the Court of Appeals scheduled one.

08/16/2024
Order Scheduling Oral Argument
Having reviewed the matter, the Court finds and orders as follows: 1. The Oral Argument is scheduled for the following date, time, and place: Tuesday, September 17, 2024 1:30 p.m., Indianapolis Time Court of Appeals of Indiana Courtroom State House, Room 413 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 2. The argument will be web-cast at www.IN.gov/judiciary and will be televised on a monitor outside of the Courtroom. 3. Attorneys who plan to sit at counsel's table should arrive at least fifteen (15) minutes before the scheduled start of the argument. 4. Each side will be allotted twenty (20) minutes for argument. 5. The scheduled panel members are Chief Judge Altice, and Judges Bailey and Mathias. 6. The contact person for the Court is Anne Fuchs who can be reached at (317) 234-4859 or by e-mail at anne.fuchs@courts.in.gov. 7. In accordance with Indiana Appellate Rule 52(C), counsel of record shall file with the Clerk an acknowledgment of this order no later than fifteen (15) days after service of the order. 8. The parties are reminded to comply with the Indiana Rules on Access to Court Records and Indiana Appellate Rule 53(H).
Judicial Officer: Altice, Robert R.
Serve: Rokita, Theodore Edward
Serve: Meilaender, Ellen Hope
Serve: Trial Clerk 08 - Carroll
Serve: James, Lori S
Serve: McLeland, Nicholas Charles
Serve: Evans, Shane Michael
08/16/2024Document Transmitted
08/21/2024Acknowledgment of Order Setting Oral Argument
Certificate of Service- Electronically Served 08/20/24
Attorney: Meilaender, Ellen Hope
Party: State of Indiana
08/21/2024Acknowledgment of Order Setting Oral Argument
Certificate of Service- Electronically Served 08/20/24
Attorney: James, Lori S
Party: Brooks-Brown, Shianne
09/17/2024Oral Argument
Session: 09/17/2024 1:30 PM
Comment: PDM/LMB/RRA
 
New date and location for the oral argument:

10/08/2024Traveling Oral Argument
Session: 09/17/2024 1:30 PM, Rescheduled
Session: 10/08/2024 10:30 AM
Comment: Allen County Courthouse-PDM/LMB/RRA
 
An update: The traveling oral argument has been cancelled and the date will be reset.
08/29/2024
Order Issued
Having reviewed the matter, the Court finds and orders as follows: 1. The Court now continues the oral argument on its own motion and resets this matter for traveling oral argument. 2. The Oral Argument is rescheduled for the following date, time, and place: Tuesday, October 8, 2024 10:30 a.m. (local time) Allen County Courthouse, Circuit Courtroom 715 South Calhoun Street, 3rd Floor Fort Wayne, IN 46802 3. The argument will be livestreamed at Court of Appeals of Indiana - Live Stream and viewable at Indiana Appellate Clerk's Portal two hours after the oral argument has ended. 4. Attorneys who plan to sit at counsel's table should arrive at least fifteen (15) minutes before the scheduled start of the argument. 5. Each side will be allotted twenty (20) minutes for argument. 6. The scheduled panel members are Chief Judge Altice, and Judges Bailey and Mathias. 7. The contact person for the Court is Anne Fuchs who can be reached at (317) 234-4859 or by e-mail at anne.fuchs@courts.in.gov. 8. In accordance with Indiana Appellate Rule 52(C), counsel of record shall file with the Clerk an acknowledgment of this order no later than fifteen (15) days after service of the order. 9. The parties are reminded to comply with the Indiana Rules on Access to Court Records and Indiana Appellate Rule 53(H). All panel judges concur.
08/29/2024Document Transmitted
08/29/2024
Motion to Reschedule Oral Argument
Certificate of Service- Electronically Served 08/29/24
Attorney: Meilaender, Ellen Hope
Party: State of Indiana
09/09/2024
Order Cancelling Oral Argument
Having reviewed the matter, the Court finds and orders as follows: 1. Appellant's Motion to Reschedule Oral Argument is granted in part. 2. The oral argument scheduled for October 8, 2024 is canceled. Altice, C.J., Bailey, Mathias, JJ., concur.
09/09/2024Document Transmitted
10/08/2024CANCELED Traveling Oral Argument
Reason: Judicial Action
Session: 09/17/2024 1:30 PM, Rescheduled
Session: 10/08/2024 10:30 AM, Cancelled
Comment: Allen County Courthouse-PDM/LMB/RRA

 

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