IPL to pay $1.5M fine to settle Petersburg pollution issues
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.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
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Video outlines Southern District jury precautions during pandemic
Hoping to allay fears of people summoned to federal court for jury duty as trials resume next week, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana has posted a video detailing the steps the court is taking to protect jurors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Indiana ordered to reply by Monday to vote-by-mail appeal
The state of Indiana has been ordered to respond by Monday to an appeal in a federal lawsuit seeking no-excuse absentee voting in the Nov. 3 general election, signaling the appellate court in Chicago may fast-track the challenge over mail-in voting just over two months ahead of the election.
Court ruling against Indiana no-excuse absentee voting appealed
A federal appeals court is being asked to take an expedited appeal of a ruling against no-excuse absentee voting in Indiana’s Nov. 3 general election, or to enter an immediate injunction that would permit all Hoosiers to vote by mail due to the pandemic.
Teacher sues over firing for Facebook posts critical of ‘Leader in Me’ curriculum
A reading teacher fired earlier this year for Facebook posts that criticized a curriculum enhancement program used at her school has sued her former employer, claiming her firing violated her First Amendment rights.
Former official for Carmel-based fraternity foundation sentenced to 27 months
The former financial coordinator of a charitable foundation operated by Carmel-based women’s fraternity Zeta Tau Alpha has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to embezzling about $450,000 from the organization.
Southern District to resume jury trials next week
The Indiana Southern District Courts will resume jury trials next week following a COVID-19 suspension that’s been in effect since March. Potential jurors still may be excluded from service upon a showing of “undue hardship or extreme inconvenience,” the court said.
Indiana’s limits on absentee balloting upheld by federal court
An attempt to allow all eligible Hoosiers to vote by mail in the November general election has been thwarted by a federal judge who ruled the limits on absentee balloting do not deny state residents their fundamental right to vote.
Federal rulings block Indiana voter roll purge, absentee ballot signature match law
Finding Indiana’s process for matching signatures on absentee ballots is unconstitutional, a federal judge has permanently enjoined the Secretary of State and other election officials from rejecting any mail-in ballot on the basis of a signature mismatch without providing adequate notice to the voter.
State, Planned Parenthood agree to delay enforcement of 18-hour abortion ultrasound law
The battle over an enjoined Indiana law requiring women to obtain an ultrasound 18 hours before an abortion has taken a new turn, with the parties entering an agreement that would vacate the injunction in the new year.
Pro Bono Matters: Indiana’s pro bono reporting system reflects growing participation
Whether you’re interested in adding pro bono to your practice for next year’s reporting requirements or are simply interested in increasing the number of hours you spend on reportable pro bono legal services, there are several ways you can get involved.
Plaintiffs seek 10-day deadline for November mail-in ballots
As part of another lawsuit challenging Indiana’s election laws, Common Cause Indiana and the Indiana State Conference of the NAACP are seeking a preliminary injunction to suspend the noon Election Day deadline for county officials to receive completed mail-in ballots.
Judicial Conference recommends safety reforms after killing of judge’s son
One month after the shooting death of the son of a New Jersey judge, the governing body of the United States federal courts is advocating reforms to increase protection for members of the federal judiciary.
Man loses 7th Circuit appeal of drug-related firearm conviction
A federal appeals court has upheld the conviction of a man who was arrested after federal authorities set up a controlled drug purchase.
WISH-TV sues AT&T over fee negotiations, claims racial discrimination
Indianapolis-based Circle City Broadcasting, which owns WISH-TV Channel 8 and WNDY-TV Channel 23, has filed a lawsuit that accuses AT&T of racial discrimination as the two companies battle over retransmission fees.
High court permits expansion of mail-in voting for 1 state
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday left in place an agreement that allows Rhode Island residents to vote by mail through November’s general election without getting signatures from two witnesses or a notary. The order was immediately cited in a lawsuit seeking to expand mail-in voting in Indiana.
Scam callers using Southern District Court’s main phone number to intimidate residents
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is warning Hoosiers of scam phone calls being made by “spoofing” the federal district court’s main phone number to intimidate residents, the federal court alerted in a Wednesday announcement.
Hispanic Heritage Month speaker to address citizenship during annual celebration
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana and the Indiana State Bar Association Latino Affairs Committee will host a presentation focusing on historical and contemporary approaches to the dilemmas of citizenship during its fourth annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.
Jackson County asks 7th Circuit to allow Christmas Nativity scene display
The legal battle over the constitutionality of a Jackson County Christmas display on public property is continuing in federal court, with advocates for a Nativity scene urging the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a lower court injunction.
13th annual Southern District Court history symposium goes virtual
The fall schedule for the 13th annual Court History and Continuing Legal Education Symposium has been released, the Historical Society of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana announced Friday.