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Supreme Court to weigh if child molestation victims should be forced to give depositions

Lauren Chapman
Children who are victims of molestation could be forced to do pretrial interviews with their alleged molesters if the Indiana Supreme Court strikes down a recent state law.

Children who are victims of molestation could be forced to do pretrial interviews with their alleged molesters if the Indiana Supreme Court strikes down a recent state law.

The Court heard arguments in the case Thursday.

A 2020 statute, SEA 206, said that, except in very limited circumstances, people accused of molesting a child under age 16 couldn’t take depositions from their alleged victims.

Steven Church was charged with molestation in Marion County and challenged that law. His attorney Matthew Strzynski said state courts have repeatedly ruled that when a state law on court procedures conflicts with Indiana Trial Rules, the trial rules win out.

“This greatly revises the rules of procedure for criminal defendants," Stryzynski said. "That is the function of the judicial branch, under the state of Indiana.”

Lauren Chapman