Indiana Court Decisions: Oct. 20-Nov. 2, 2022
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the most recent reporting period.
7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Articles
7th Circuit vacates 10-year sentence after district court wrongly dismisses evidence of drug purity
A split 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated a 10-year prison sentence for a drug dealer after finding a district court failed to address “some evidence” suggesting inaccurate drug testing.
Late Judge Kanne’s papers donated to IU Maurer library
Case files and papers from the late 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Michael Kanne have been donated to the Indiana University Maurer School of Law’s Jerome Hall Law Library.
7th Circuit affirms denial of disability benefits, agrees 89,000 is ‘significant’ number of jobs
A woman seeking disability benefits has lost her argument that a judge improperly found there were a “significant” number of jobs she could perform despite her disabilities.
Supreme Court won’t consider Lake Michigan beach case
The public will keep the right to use Indiana’s Lake Michigan shoreline for recreation as the U.S. Supreme Court won’t consider arguments from nearby property owners who claimed they also owned the beach.
Ex-Roncalli counselor Fitzgerald appeals ruling in favor of Indianapolis Archdiocese
Michelle “Shelly” Fitzgerald, the former guidance counselor at Roncalli High School who was fired for being in a same-sex marriage, is fighting the dismissal of her lawsuit against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
Hoosier attorney fighting student loan debt relief appeals to 7th Circuit after dismissal
The Hoosier attorney who sued to stop the federal student loan forgiveness program received a lesson in litigation from the federal judge presiding over the case: Don’t sue the wrong defendant.
Indiana Court Decisions: Oct. 6-19, 2022
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the latest reporting period.
HHC sued for Open Door violation in Talevski case
A lawsuit has been filed against the members of the Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County Board of Trustees for violating Indiana’s Open Door Law in appealing a nursing home dispute to the U.S. Supreme Court.
7th Circuit rejects white South Bend athletic director’s ‘reverse racism’ discrimination claims
A former South Bend high school athletic director has failed to convince the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that he wasn’t hired for a new job because he is white.
Taxpayer group asks high court to stop loan forgiveness plan
A Wisconsin taxpayers group that unsuccessfully brought a lawsuit seeking to block President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene.
7th Circuit rules partial victory merits reduced attorney fees
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed a reduction in attorney fees of more than 50% for an Indiana attorney who had been previously admonished by the appellate court for trying to up his compensation.
Above-guidelines felon-in-possession sentence upheld
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a man’s four-year sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm, despite his argument that the above-guidelines sentence was erroneous.
7th Circuit affirms convictions, sentences for three in major Gary drug conspiracy
Three Gary men intertwined in a major drug ring did not sway the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals from affirming their convictions and decadeslong sentences on Friday.
Pryor confirmation vote waits while U.S. senators hit campaign trail
Magistrate Judge Doris Pryor of the Indiana Southern District Court has been waiting since August for the U.S. Senate to vote on her nomination to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, and she will likely have to wait some more.
Split 7th Circuit affirms denial of habeas relief despite excluded evidence
A northern Indiana man convicted of molesting his teenage nephew has lost his appeal of the denial of habeas relief based on the argument that he should have been allowed to present evidence of his nephew’s drug use.
7th Circuit affirms heroin dealer’s amended sentence
An Indianapolis heroin dealer who had already convinced the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals once to reduce his prison time has failed to persuade the judges to shave more time off his sentence.
Indiana Court Decisions: Sept. 22-Oct. 5, 2022
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the latest reporting period.
7th Circuit affirms for ex-officer in fatal shooting of South Bend Black man
The family of a Black South Bend man who was fatally shot by a now-resigned white police officer found no relief from the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals after it concluded that the officer gave the man “a chance to live” before shooting.
US high court asked to undo Indiana Lake Michigan ruling
Three property owners with land along northwest Indiana’s Lake Michigan shoreline have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to undo a 2018 ruling by Indiana’s high court that declared the shoreline is owned by the state for the public’s enjoyment.