The Indiana Court of Appeals will hear oral argument in In re T.A. and K.S., L. F. v. Department of Child Services on Monday, April 20th at 10 a.m. in the Ivy Tech Hall at Ivy Tech – Lafayette.  A panel of Judge Patricia A. Riley, Judge Margret G. Robb, and Judge Cale J. Bradford will hear the case on appeal from Pulaski Circuit Court.

The case involves the removal of T.A. and K.S. from the home of their mother by the Pulaski County Department of Child Services (DCS), pending an investigation into the sudden death of their 14 year old sibling, J.S.  After an autopsy report concluded J.S.'s death was accidental and directly caused by a prescription error, the mother and DCS agreed to a timeline for the return of T.A. and K.S. culminating on August 3, 2007.  DCS failed to return the children on August 3rd.  The mother filed a motion to hold DCS in contempt on August 6, and the trial court ordered DCS to return the children to the mother on August 9th.  DCS later filed a motion to discharge the mother's motion for contempt, which the trial court granted after a hearing.  The mother filed a motion to correct error, which the trial court denied, and she now appeals.  Arguing for the appellant, the mother of T.A. and K.S., will be Kevin C. Tankersley, and arguing for the appellee, Department of Child Services, will be Frances H. Barrow.

The Court hears oral argument at venues across the state to enable Hoosiers to learn about the judicial branch, and members of the audience are invited to ask questions following the submission of the case about the judicial process in Indiana.   The Court has heard more than 200 oral arguments “on the road” at law schools, colleges, high schools and county courthouses since its centennial in 2000-2001. 

The Indiana Court of Appeals is the state’s second-highest court.  It reviews appeals from trial court decisions; a decision of the Indiana Court of Appeals is final unless granted further review by the Indiana Supreme Court.  The majority of appeals filed in Indiana are decided by the Court of Appeals.