U.S. Senate Judiciary passes bipartisan JUDGES Act co-authored by Young
The JUDGES Act would increase the number of federal district judges in the most overburdened areas of the country, including the Southern District of Indiana.
District Courts
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Making history: Pratt first African American chief judge of Southern District
New Southern District of Indiana Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt Pratt is focused on steps to reopen courthouses to the public as the country hopes to be quelling the COVID-19 virus and advocating in Congress for a new judgeship to help handle the court’s excessive caseload.
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Disappearing act: Jury trials on the decline, but options available to reverse trend
It’s no secret jury trials are declining across America, even as they are increasing in other parts of the world. What’s less obvious, though, is why that decline is occurring and how alternate means of resolving cases are impacting perceptions of fairness.
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Motorists crossing Louisville bridges claim they were fraudulently billed
In a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, a group of drivers allege the vendors hired to operate the RiverLink toll system for the three bridges between Louisville, Kentucky, and southern Indiana fraudulently tacked on administrative fees and penalties.
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Despite tech, court reporters say they’re here to stay
Even as digital recording is grows, charged sentiment surrounds the use of artificial intelligence in court reporting, industry experts say. According to some, there’s a middle ground to be found: embracing technology to increase efficiency while also relying on humans for nuance.
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Articles
The inside story of a rotten Hewlett Packard deal to be told in trial of fallen British tech star
The criminal trial in San Francisco federal court revolves around HP’s acquisition of British software maker Autonomy, a deal that was celebrated as coup when it was announced in 2011, only to blow up into a costly debacle.
Fees increasing at federal courts
Fee increases took effect today in both the Indiana Northern and Southern District courts.
Indiana resident suing Fitbit for faulty battery that caused burns
An Indianapolis woman is suing the maker of the Fitbit smart watch, alleging a defect in her watch’s battery caused it to overheat and gave her thermal burns.
Brady named IN Northern District chief judge
Judge Holly Brady is the new chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, replacing now-Senior Judge Jon DeGuilio.
States sue telecom company over billions of robocalls
Attorneys general across the U.S. joined in a lawsuit Tuesday against a telecommunications company accused of making more than 7.5 billion robocalls to people on the national Do Not Call Registry.
US courts bolster security, see drop in cases filed in 2022
The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts highlighted its 2022 legislative goals and achievements — including a new law meant to protect federal judges’ personal information — in an annual report released Tuesday.
State, federal court closings scheduled for new year
In observance of New Year’s Day, Indiana state and federal courts are scheduled for closure.
Federal judge: Parts of lawsuit filed on behalf of Dreasjon Reed may proceed to trial
Parts of a federal lawsuit filed by the mother of a slain Indianapolis man who was shot by police last year after vehicle and foot pursuit will move ahead to trial.
Blame Trump? Jury hears that defense at Capitol riot trial
Mentions of Donald Trump have been rare at the first few trials for people charged with storming the U.S. Capitol, but that has changed: The latest Capitol riot defendant to go on trial is blaming his actions on the former president and his false claims about a stolen election.
Former IN lawmaker pleads guilty to felony campaign finance violations
Former Indiana State Sen. Darryl Brent Waltz has pleaded guilty to two felonies in federal court for taking illegal campaign contributions from a casino and lying to the FBI.
Drivers in Ohio River bridges lawsuit reach preliminary settlement
The plaintiffs in the Ohio River toll bridges billing dispute are asking a federal court to approve a $2.5 million settlement they have reached with Gila, LLC, a subcontractor hired to help with the invoicing and collections operation.
State seeks to end lawsuit against Lake County judicial nominating process
In response to a lawsuit challenging judicial selection in Lake County, the state of Indiana is claiming the judicial nominating process does not violate the Constitution or federal voting laws and asserting the court should enter judgment in the case against the plaintiffs.
Judge: Same-sex marriage license denials violated rights
A federal judge has ruled that a former Kentucky clerk violated the constitutional rights of two same-sex couples who were among those to whom she wouldn’t issue marriage licenses — a refusal that sparked international attention and briefly landed her in jail in 2015.
US courts see drop in filings, display strength in ‘trying times’ in 2021
Members of the United States judiciary in 2021 successfully endured a year fraught with challenges, according to a new report from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Judicial officers also saw significant drops in filings in 2021.
Lynch retiring from Southern Indiana District Court
Magistrate Judge Debra McVicker Lynch of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana will retire on Oct. 31 after more than 13 years of service to the federal judiciary, the court announced Monday.
Federal judiciary resisting congressional effort to make PACER free
With members of Congress on both sides of the aisle supporting a pair of bills that would give the public free access to federal court filings, federal judges are asserting filing fees would likely increase if PACER is prohibited from charging users.
Chief Justice Roberts reminds federal judiciary of ethical standards
In his year-end report, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts highlighted the need for “more rigorous” ethics training for the federal judiciary and possibly additional funding from Congress to prevent judges from presiding over cases in which they have a conflict of interest.
Federal court rules losses suffered by Patachou restaurant not covered by insurance
The Patachou restaurants in Indianapolis and Carmel will not be able to recoup their financial losses from the COVID-19 shutdown in the spring of 2020 after a federal court found the insurance policy they held only reimbursed for damage to the actual brick and mortar structures.
Indiana woman linked to QAnon to be jailed for Capitol rioting
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has sentenced Dona Sue Bissey of Bloomfield, to 14 days of incarceration and 60 hours of community service for her involvement during the Jan. 6.