Elkhart officers indicted for beating handcuffed suspect
Two Elkhart police officers who are alleged to have repeatedly punched a handcuffed man were indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury in Hammond for using excessive force against an arrestee.
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Indiana abortion petition making eighth SCOTUS appearance, might be inspiring ‘screed’
Indiana’s petition for a review of its abortion law has been relisted for an eighth conference at the U.S. Supreme Court, raising suspicions that the case will not be accepted but could bring a fiery dissent.
Judge dismisses part of Charlestown lawsuit tied to redevelopment plans
A federal judge has dismissed a portion of a lawsuit brought by landlords that alleged racketeering by Charlestown officials related to a planned redevelopment project.
Web Exclusive: Litigation continues over PACER fees
A group of retired federal judges has learned life after the bench comes with PACER fees, and they are lending their voice to those questioning fees for public access to online federal court records.
Southern District case challenges reduction of U.S. Social Security benefits for Canadians
A Canadian woman with careers in both Canada and the United States has experienced those complications firsthand and is seeking legal redress for what she says are wrongly withheld benefits. Lorraine Beeler has sued the Social Security Administration in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, alleging her U.S. retirement benefits were wrongly reduced based on similar benefits she receives from Canada.
Trump again proposes elimination of Legal Services Corp.
Proponents of providing Americans equal access to justice through civil legal aid have once again found themselves defending that cause against the Trump administration, which proposes for the third time eliminating federal funding for civil legal aid.
Attorneys share discovery in Elkhart woman’s terror case
Prosecutors have said they are still determining which confidential items they can share with attorneys defending an Indiana woman who is accused of providing tactical gear and funds to two Islamic State fighters. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abizer Zanzi said at a status hearing in federal court Thursday that the government has shared discovery that is not confidential with the attorneys for Samantha Elhassani.
Southern Indiana District Court to offer CLE on black history
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana will celebrate Black History Month by welcoming Marcia M. Anderson, the first African-American woman to achieve the rank of Major General in the U.S. Army and an attorney who spent more than 25 years as the clerk of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
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.
‘Full House’ star to surrender in college admissions scandal
Fallout from a sweeping college admissions scandal swiftly spread Wednesday, with a Silicon Valley hedge fund replacing its leader and “Full House” actress Lori Loughlin expected to surrender and appear in court in Los Angeles.
U.S. Courts report immigration cases soar, district court filings rise
Immigration prosecutions increased 37 percent last year while overall filings in federal district courts rose 7 percent, according to the United States Courts’ 2018 Annual Report and Court Statistics. The report released Tuesday also found that filings in federal courts of appeal declined 2 percent in 2018.
Ex-Hamilton County addiction doctor loses suit against DEA, Carmel
Law enforcement officials who unsuccessfully brought charges against a Hamilton County addiction treatment doctor accused of overprescribing opiates have been cleared in a civil lawsuit the doctor filed against them.
Manafort gets 47 months; Trump feels ‘very badly’ for ex-campaign chair
Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for tax and bank fraud related to his work advising Ukrainian politicians, much less than what was called for under federal sentencing guidelines.
Statehouse considering two abortion bills while court challenges loom
With petitions still pending at the U.S. Supreme Court over Indiana’s 2016 abortion law, two new anti-abortion bills are moving through the Statehouse and at least one, if it becomes law, could drag the state back into court for a new battle.
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.
Judgment awarded to Southport, police officials in legal feud with city councilwoman
The curtains have closed, at least for now, on a longstanding political battle between Southport law enforcement, a city council member and her ex-boyfriend now that a district court has awarded judgment in favor of the city, its police chief and a former detective on their motions for summary judgment on the council members remaining claims.
Judiciary faces ‘political’ task in border wall emergency declaration
The question for courts hearing challenges to President Donald Trump’s national emergency declaration is not as simple as deciding whetherthe action is legal; they also must determine the extent of congressional and presidential powers, the meaning of relevant statutes and how much deference to give a president asserting executive authority.
Judge rejects Elkhart’s subpoena for newspaper records
A federal judge has rejected the City of Elkhart’s attempt to force a newspaper to turn over records of its reporting on a Chicago man who was pardoned after a decade in prison and is suing the Indiana city for wrongful conviction.
Democrats eye new inquiries, witnesses after Cohen testimony
After three days of grilling Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Democrats are quickly using his words as a roadmap to open new lines of investigation into the president’s ties to Russia and summon additional witnesses.
7th Circuit remands Indiana civil forfeiture case
In another dispute in an Indiana civil forfeiture case, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has denied issuing an opinion on a district court ruling that found parts of the state statute unconstitutional, finding the lower court was not given a chance to address the state’s effort to fix the problem.