Authorities make arrests in Indiana gun shop burglary
Authorities say they’ve arrested suspects after 33 handguns and rifles were stolen from a central Indiana gun shop in a matter of minutes.
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After SCOTUS ruling, 7th Circuit reaffirms ‘crime of violence’ vague
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals will stick with its initial decision to vacate and remand two men’s sentences after the United States Supreme Court concluded that the definition of “crime of violence” in 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(3)(B) was unconstitutionally vague.
Southern District warns of scam using court’s telephone number
Federal court officials in Indianapolis are warning that scammers are using the court’s main phone number to scam and intimidate people.
Hobart man accused of posting Trump threats pleads guilty
A northwestern Indiana man has pleaded guilty to making threats against President Donald Trump on Facebook.
Charlestown zoo owner must keep big cats during animal-rights case
A federal judge is doubling down on an animal-rights ruling that prohibits the owners of a southern Indiana zoo from moving its large cats out of its possession, though the judge stopped short of issuing sanctions for an alleged failure to follow that order.
Ex-Covance worker’s retaliation lawsuit reinstated
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated a man’s lawsuit alleging his former employer refused to hire him permanently in retaliation of prior discriminatory complaints he filed.
Federal courts report bankruptcies continue to decline
Continuing a trend of recent years, bankruptcies nationwide declined for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2019, U.S. Courts reported. Overall personal bankruptcies declined slightly, though business filings increased for just the third time this decade. Indiana’s Southern District bankruptcy numbers, however, told a different tale.
Inspector general fights AG Hill’s subpoena in discipline case
As the disciplinary action against Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill proceeds, a key player in the investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against Hill is claiming her records from the investigation are privileged.
Five federal death row inmates face executions beginning this year
After the Justice Department announced Thursday that it will resume executing death row prisoners for the first time in nearly two decades, five inmates are facing potential execution dates at the high-security U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute.
Bankruptcy Judge Lorch stepping down (again) after 27 years
Retiring Judge Basil H. Lorch III of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana will be honored in a private ceremony Friday for his 27 years of service in the federal judiciary.
Woman who bought gun used to kill deputy sent to prison
A 13-month prison sentence was handed an Indianapolis woman who purchased the handgun used to kill a Boone County sheriff’s deputy in March 2018.
Damon Leichty takes ‘quiet confidence’ to federal judiciary
The U.S. Senate approved Damon Leichty on an 85-10 vote, sending the South Bend Barnes & Thornburgh partner to fill the last vacancy in Indiana’s federal judiciary and making him the fourth judge confirmed to Indiana’s federal bench since last August.
‘Factually inaccurate’ disability denial over migraines remanded
A northern Indiana woman may find some relief after the Northern District Court reversed and remanded the denial of her appeal for supplemental security income.
Alleged drug ring leader’s trial moved to Evansville
Richard Grundy III and four co-defendants first stood trial July 8 in Indianapolis on federal drug trafficking charges, but a mistrial was declared July 10 after a court order concerning jurors’ personal information was violated. Court documents show Grundy will now stand trial July 29 at the U.S. district court in Evansville.
Duke Energy sued for 2014 coal ash spill environmental harm
The federal, North Carolina and Virginia governments asked a court Thursday to declare the country’s largest electricity company liable for environmental damage from a leak five years ago that left miles of a river shared by the two states coated in hazardous coal ash.
2nd man sentenced in fatal southern Indiana gun shop robbery
An Indianapolis man has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his role in the robbery and fatal shooting of a southern Indiana gun shop owner. A judge ordered the sentence Thursday after 24-year-old Darion Harris pleaded guilty.
Whether armed robber ‘physically restrained’ victims splits 7th Circuit
The question of whether an armed robber can be said to have physically restrained his victims as an enhancement under federal sentencing guidelines split the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday. The ruling also deepened a wide circuit split on the issue, with judges answering the question by employing a classic legal maxim: It depends.
No additional charges in Trump hush-money probe
Federal prosecutors in New York have decided not to file any additional charges in their investigation of illegal hush money payments orchestrated by President Donald Trump’s lawyer to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal before the 2016 election.
Payments from $208M NCAA settlement begin in August
More than 50,000 former college athletes next month will begin collecting portions of a $208 million class-action settlement paid by Indianapolis-based NCAA in a case that challenged its caps on compensation.
Ex-Pacers player, Auburn assistant Chuck Person avoids prison
Former Indiana Pacers star and Auburn University assistant basketball coach Chuck Person’s lifelong generosity may have driven him to the poorhouse, but it saved him from the jailhouse Wednesday when a judge sentenced him in a bribery scandal that touched some of the biggest college basketball programs.