Indianapolis drug kingpin gets life in federal prison
A federal judge sentenced the leader of a violent Indianapolis-based drug trafficking ring to life in prison Thursday.
Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson
Articles
Jury awards million-dollar verdict in egg dispute
An Evansville-based egg buyer suffered a $1.46 million jury verdict in late November over a broken agreement to buy more than 100 million eggs, but a piece of the fight involving egg packing materials will continue Tuesday before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Federal judges share experiences of judicial nomination, appointments
Several judges spoke candidly about their personal judicial nomination experiences on Friday in honor of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana’s 12th annual court history and continuing legal education symposium.
Fraudster Durham wins hearing on whether lawyer’s $1M fee created conflict
Fair Finance fraud felon Tim Durham will get a chance to grill his former trial attorney over whether his $1 million wire fraud defense representation fee created a conflict of interest between money the lawyer could pocket versus paying for witnesses Durham claims could have testified in his favor. A federal judge recently granted a new hearing on that and other grounds as Durham seeks to chisel away at his 50-year prison sentence.
Undocumented immigrant sentenced in drunk driving crash that killed Colts player
The undocumented immigrant charged in connection with the February 2018 crash that killed Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson has been sentenced to 3½ years in federal prison.
Ex-Brownsburg attorney gets 30-month sentence for tax evasion
A former Brownsburg attorney who pleaded guilty to tax evasion earlier this year will spend 2½ years in prison and owes more than $2.4 million to the Internal Revenue Service.
7th Circuit affirms pro bono denial; judges may recruit to amend complaints
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the denial of a man’s request for pro bono representation, but not before correcting a district court’s reading of language about its discretion to recruit counsel until after the complaint was answered by the defendant.
Judge orders insurance CEO to attend settlement conference
Despite repeated objections, an insurance company’s CEO has been ordered to personally attend an upcoming settlement conference in a contractor’s defamation suit against the insurer. Nationwide Insurance CEO Stephen R. Rasmussen failed to persuade either a magistrate judge or the presiding judge that his presence was unnecessary at a settlement conference in a lawsuit brought by ARAC Roof it Forward.
Wood: 6 out of 7 chief judges in 7th Circuit soon to be women
Most chief judges at federal trial courts in the 7th Circuit — comprised of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin — are already women. Soon, there'll be just one man among them, 7th Circuit Chief Judge Diane Wood noted in a speech Monday.
1st black, female major general in U.S Army speaks at federal courts’ Black History event
Dozens gathered to belatedly celebrate Black History Month on Friday at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, but the delay only heightened the joyful celebration. A crowd gathered to hear from honorary guest Major General Marcia Anderson, the first African-American woman to achieve the rank of major general in the history of the United States Army.
Former Sen. Birch Bayh honored for long legacy as ‘doer’
The legislative legacy forged on Capitol Hill and the jovial hog farmer-turned-politician who won three terms in the Senate were both remembered during an Indiana Statehouse memorial service Wednesday for U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh, who died in March at age 91.
Terre Haute inmate awarded damages for excessive force
An inmate at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute was awarded $2,000 in damages after he won his excessive force lawsuit, with the Southern Indiana District Court finding the “lack of institutional evidence of the incident was exacerbated by the (Bureau of Prisons’) treatment of (the inmate’s) sensitive grievance.”
Divided 7th Circuit lifts injunction against Indiana fetal-tissue research ban
An Indianapolis judge’s ruling that blocked an Indiana law effectively banning stem cell research derived from aborted fetal tissue was reversed by a divided 7th Circuit Court of Appeals panel Thursday. The 2-1 decision is a defeat for Indiana University researchers challenging the ban, and a dissenting judge questioned the state’s motivation and intent behind a law he said threatens IU research into potential treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders.
Judge sanctions lawyer, ex-DOC nurse in inmate abuse case
After declaring her trust in the statements submitted by defendants in prisoner litigation cases “shattered,” a federal judge imposed sanctions — some as as severe as default judgment — on a former prison nurse and her attorney accused of misconduct as serious as perjury.
Judge allows ‘extremely narrow’ failure to accommodate claim to proceed against IPS
A disability discrimination claim brought against Indianapolis Public Schools by a former bus attendant who says the school district failed to accommodate her medical conditions will continue on “extremely narrow” grounds, a federal judge has ruled.
Family, colleagues celebrate Hanlon at public investiture
Tilting the microphone down from the podium, the youngest daughter of new Southern District Judge James Patrick Hanlon drew smiles from his investiture crowd as she characterized her father as a hardworking man who always makes time for his kids.
Terre Haute denied summary judgment on ex-employee’s retaliation, negligence claims
A man who claims he was fired from his employment with the city of Terre Haute for defending a co-worker partially defeated a motion for summary judgment, with a judge finding the man’s claims of negligent supervision and retaliation under the Americans with Disabilities Act can proceed.
Family, colleagues celebrate Hanlon at public investiture
In ceremonially donning his robe at his public investiture on Friday, Judge James Patrick Hanlon officially brought the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana to a full bench for the first time in nearly five years.
Judiciary chiefs, legal leaders offer women in the law advice
A recent discussion highlighted women judicial leaders and lawyers working in both state and federal law, giving them the opportunity to share their struggles and advice for young female barristers striving to advance in their legal careers.
Indiana case shines spotlight on solitary confinement
No one denies that Aaron Isby-Israel made bad, even criminal, choices that landed him in the Indiana Department of Correction. What is disputed is whether Isby should have remained in solitary confinement for a total of 28 years.