Federal court orders Indianapolis business to cease preparing tax returns
The IRS estimated that Juan Santiago’s fraudulent tax preparation activities had caused about $1.3 million in tax harm to the United States Treasury each year.
Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt
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‘Passing the baton’: Pratt family features 3 generations of Black attorneys, 2 generations of judges
Lena Pratt Sanders, the Marion Circuit Court magistrate judge, has continued her family’s legal legacy of three generations of Black attorneys in Indianapolis — and has now started the family’s second generation of judges.
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From magistrate to district judge: After smooth confirmation, Brookman primed for new role on Indiana Southern District bench
Calm, works well with lawyers and litigants, and without a hint of personal or political agendas on the bench. That’s how colleagues, attorneys and judges describe Matthew Brookman.
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Legal leaders reflect on expected Black woman SCOTUS nomination
Indiana Southern District Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt has joined a chorus of elation prompted by President Joe Biden’s recent announcement that he intends to make good on his promise to appoint the first Black woman to the Supreme Court of the United States when Justice Stephen Breyer leaves the bench.
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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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Articles
Federal judge rules FSSA must provide modified relief for families in attendant care lawsuit
The last two parents of medically fragile children receiving state payments for attendant care will transition to Structured Family Caregiving with everyone else following a Friday court ruling. But the federal judge presiding over the attendant care lawsuit ruled that FSSA must “arrange” for families to receive in-home skilled nursing services on top of that program.
Chief Judge Pratt, Indiana Lawyer’s Lifetime Achievement Award winner, cites her father as first great mentor
Judge Pratt said she drew inspiration from a variety of people, but cited her father, the late defense and civil rights attorney Charles A. Walton, as her first great mentor. “I knew very early on I wanted to be like my dad. I wanted to be a lawyer,” she said.
Judge rejects plea deal by former Muncie police officer, who will now stand trial for 3rd time
A federal judge rejected a plea agreement Wednesday for a former Muncie police officer accused of trying to cover up another officer’s use of excessive force, setting the stage for his third trial in the case.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana to host 25th Black History Month event
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana will be hosting its 25th annual Black History Month event next month.
Battery claim against Indianapolis can proceed in police excessive force case, federal judge rules
The estate of a woman who died after a struggle with Indianapolis police may pursue a battery claim at trial next month after a federal judge denied the city’s motion to dismiss.
Corydon woman’s amended civil rights complaint dismissed with prejudice in federal court
A Black Corydon woman’s amended civil rights complaint failed to present sufficient claims against several town defendants and Harrison County commissioners, a federal judge ruled in dismissing the lawsuit with prejudice.
Carmel Clay Schools win summary judgment on ex-counselor’s claims of discrimination for being Hispanic, gay
Carmel Clay Schools has been awarded summary judgment on discrimination and retaliation claims filed by a former high school counselor who said she was ultimately terminated for being Hispanic and married to a woman.
Man gets 30 years in prison for child sexual exploitation acts
An Indianapolis man has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting a child, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana announced Dec. 29.
Corydon woman’s federal lawsuit alleging civil rights violations dismissed without prejudice
A federal judge has dismissed without prejudice a civil rights complaint filed by a Black woman from Corydon who alleges she was denied full access to the town’s public utilities and faced harassment and threats while living there.
Federal court hears arguments in Haitian immigrants’ challenge to Indiana law that limits driver’s license access to certain Ukrainians
A federal judge heard arguments Friday from lawyers for a group of Indiana residents from Haiti who are suing the state over a law that allows immigrants in the U.S. on humanitarian parole to get driver’s licenses, but only if they are from Ukraine.
Portraits of Chief Judge Pratt, Judge Magnus-Stinson unveiled at federal courthouse
A ceremony Thursday unveiled new commissioned portraits of Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt and Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson inside their respective courtrooms.
Klump honored at investiture ceremony
Magistrate Judge M. Kendra Klump was honored at her official investiture ceremony last Friday.
Wildeman sworn in as magistrate judge in Southern District
Crystal Wildeman was sworn in as magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana at a private ceremony, the court announced Friday.
Indianapolis man gets more than 6 years in prison for possessing firearm as previously convicted felon
An Indianapolis man has been sentenced to six years and five months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana announced Monday.
Evansville investiture ceremony celebrates support, pride for Brookman
For Judge Matthew P. Brookman, Friday wasn’t his first investiture ceremony with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, but it was an important one.
Former Muncie police sergeant gets 19 months for filing false report covering up excessive force
A judge sentenced a former Muncie police sergeant to 19 months in prison Tuesday for obstructing justice by filing a false report in 2018 to cover up excessive use of force by other officers under his command.
Judge rules children of ex-fertility doc Cline can proceed with 3 claims against Netflix, dismisses 2 others
Children who were fathered by disgraced Indianapolis fertility specialist Donald Cline can proceed with three of their claims against Netflix and a production company, but a federal judge dismissed identity deception and theft claims.
Shelbyville woman gets two-year sentence for embezzlement
The former controller of a Shelbyville company has been sentenced to two years in federal prison after admitting to embezzling nearly $700,000 from her company.
IN Southern District diversity internship opens doors to ‘intimidating’ federal judiciary
Shahd Jaziri walked into the federal courthouse in Indianapolis last spring for an interview and felt the same thing others likely feel: intimidation.