U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

‘Her Honor’: New painting reflects strength, diversity of women judges on Southern Indiana District Court

September 30, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

Looking up from her desk, Southern Indiana District Court Chief Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson can have a moment of joy in a year where, as she noted, joyful moments have been too few. The object of her respite is “Her Honor,” a newly finished painting that depicts her and her female colleagues against a background of colorful bursts and expression to commemorate the achievement of women in the 100 years since the passage of the 19th Amendment.

State opposes ‘last minute change’ to polling hours law

September 29, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

The state of Indiana is trying to stop a federal judge’s ruling that would allow Hoosier voters themselves to go to state court and file for an extension of polling hours if problems arise with balloting on Election Day.

Former Indiana lawmakers, casino exec indicted in federal campaign finance scheme

September 29, 2020 | Olivia Covington

Two former state lawmakers have been charged in federal court in Indianapolis with violations of campaign finance laws, the Indiana Southern District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.

Suit: Challenged law may invalidate tens of thousands of Indiana mail-in ballots

September 24, 2020 | Dave Stafford

An estimated 10,000 Hoosiers’ mail-in absentee ballots were rejected as “late” during Indiana’s 2020 primary election under a disputed Indiana law, suggesting multiple times more ballots may be thrown out in the Nov. 3 general election, groups challenging the law in federal court contend.

Judge blocks Indiana law restricting who may seek polling hour extension

September 23, 2020 | IL Staff

A federal judge has blocked a 2019 Indiana law restricting who may seek to extend polling-place hours due to conditions that prevent voters from casting a ballot.

Suit seeks $3M in damages over alleged wrongful DCS actions

September 23, 2020 | Dave Stafford

Indianapolis parents who claim the Indiana Department of Child Services wrongly removed their children from the home over allegedly false accusations of sexual abuse have filed a federal lawsuit against the agency seeking $3 million in damages.

Online admission ceremony celebrates new lawyers, honors Justice Ginsburg

September 21, 2020 | Katie Stancombe

The Indiana Supreme Court hosted the Fall 2020 Bar Admission Ceremony by videoconference Monday in keeping with safeguards of hosting once events online amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the speakers encouraged new Indiana lawyers to look to the example of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Southern District proposes amended initial extension rules

September 21, 2020 | IL Staff

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana has proposed changes to rules governing requests for initial extensions of time.

7th Circuit denies bid to stay execution of Black man convicted of murder

September 21, 2020 | Dave Stafford

The first Black man scheduled to be executed since the resumption of lethal injection on federal death row lost his appeal for a stay Friday when the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals found he had almost no chance of relief arguing his claims of ineffective assistance of counsel and that the judge who condemned him was an alcoholic.

Judge: Memory-impaired man’s suit claiming Carmel City Hall assault may proceed in part

September 18, 2020 | Dave Stafford

A man who has difficulty forming new memories and therefore records his interactions on video may proceed with a lawsuit on narrowed claims alleging he was injured after a confrontation with a city attorney in Carmel City Hall as the man recorded his interactions with staff.

Southern Indiana District Court opens applications for new magistrate judge

September 17, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, one of the busiest federal courts in the country, has been allotted another full-time magistrate judge position and is taking applications for the appointment, which will start April 1, 2021.

Fall 2020 Indiana bar admission ceremony to be held virtually

September 15, 2020 | IL Staff

For the second time this year, new Indiana attorneys will be taking their oaths via videoconference during the Fall 2020 Bar Admission Ceremony, the Indiana Supreme Court has announced.

Charlestown zoo owner facing contempt after blocking court-ordered animal removal

September 14, 2020 | Olivia Covington

As the process of removing animals from an Indiana zoo featured on Netflix’s hit series “Tiger King” begins, the owner of the zoo is already facing a contempt motion for allegedly interfering with the court-ordered removal.

Indiana AG urges 7th Circuit to keep absentee voting restrictions in place

September 11, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

Less than two months before the November presidential election, the Indiana Attorney General is countering a push to remove the state’s restrictions on mail-in voting by telling the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals those restrictions guard against fraud and encourage voter turnout.

AG Hill appeals ruling striking ‘abortion complications’ reporting statute

September 10, 2020 | Olivia Covington

A district court ruling that struck down a Hoosier abortion law requiring the reporting of “abortion complications” has been appealed to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill announced.

IU wins summary judgment in ex-student’s Title IX case

September 4, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

Along with granting summary judgment to Indiana University in an ex-student’s Title IX sexual misconduct lawsuit, the Southern Indiana District Court found the exercise of supplemental jurisdiction was proper and also dismissed the male student’s state law claims.

Attorney/photographer denied new trial, ordered to pay $172K in Indy skyline photo suit

September 3, 2020 | Olivia Covington

A lawyer and photographer who lost a federal copyright trial one year ago has also lost his bid for a new trial and instead has been ordered to pay more than $172,000 in fees.

Serve and protect: Shooting of federal judge’s family sparks safety reform recommendations

September 2, 2020 | Olivia Covington

After the shooting of a district judge’s son and husband at her home in New Jersey, Hoosier federal jurists say they live daily with the reality of threats to their safety. The judicial Conference has adopted a series of recommendations aimed at safeguarding the federal bench.

Over Indiana’s opposition, pace accelerated for no-excuse absentee balloting case

September 1, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

The 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals has granted a motion to expedite the appeal of the challenge to the state’s restrictions on absentee balloting, rejecting Indiana’s request to pump the brakes.

IPL to pay $1.5M fine to settle Petersburg pollution issues

September 1, 2020 | John Russell, Indianapolis Business Journal and IL Staff

Indianapolis Power & Light Co. has agreed to pay about $1.5 million in penalties to settle longstanding pollution issues at its huge Petersburg Generating Station.

Articles