Conour fraud trial set for September
A federal judge Friday morning set a new trial date of Sept. 9 for an Indianapolis high-profile lawyer accused of misappropriating millions in client funds.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
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U.S. Attorney’s Office creates civil rights task force
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Indiana has created the first Indiana-based initiative in the district to increase and improve local efforts in protecting residents’ civil rights.
Federal Bar Update: Southern District of Indiana adopts rule amendments
The Southern District has amended several Local Rules. These were approved in late December and took effect Jan. 1.
Ruling: DOC ‘indifferent’ to mentally ill inmates
The opinion from the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Indiana fits the national trend against isolation policy for these inmates.
Sequestration would deepen staff cuts, chief judges warn
Federal courts that have squeezed staff as budgets shrank could be forced to furlough employees if Congress fails to avoid mandatory budget cuts that now are slated to take effect in March.
Judge: DOC treatment of mentally ill unconstitutional
A lack of basic treatment for mentally ill Indiana Department of Correction inmates held in isolation violates the U.S. Constitution’s Eighth Amendment prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment, a federal judge ruled Monday.
Comments being accepted on bankruptcy local rules
The judges of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana are considering amendments to two local rules: B-4001-3 and B-4008-1.
Workers settle employment lawsuit against local hotels
Sixteen current and former Indianapolis hotel workers have settled their union-backed lawsuit that alleged employment violations by nine area hotels and Atlanta-based Hospitality Staffing Solutions, a subcontractor that employs many hotel workers.
Bankruptcy judge warns of impact of ‘fiscal cliff’
Chief Judge James K. Coachys in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana sent a memo to the Indiana State Bar Association Wednesday explaining how budget cuts and the potential “fiscal cliff” have affected the court.
Housing group sues Buckingham over apartment accessibility
A not-for-profit fair housing group is suing Indianapolis-based Buckingham Cos., claiming the apartment developer has ignored government rules requiring accommodations for people with physical disabilities.
Federal court stays Roy Lee Ward’s execution
A federal appeals court judge Tuesday granted a stay of execution for an Indiana man convicted of the torturous rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl.
Conour still without counsel
Ex-attorney William Conour still has not secured legal counsel in his federal wire fraud case, he told Chief Judge Richard Young during a status hearing conducted by phone Tuesday.
7th Circuit affirms drug conspiracy judgments, cautions prosecution
Nine defendants who were convicted in federal court of drug conspiracy for distributing methamphetamine and marijuana will continue to serve their sentences after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the judgments but issued cautions for federal prosecutors.
Religious bent of Indiana’s marriage statute is not unconstitutional, federal court rules
The Center For Inquiry, a non-profit that promotes a secular society based on science and reason, plans to appeal a federal court’s ruling that Indiana’s Solemnization Statute is constitutional.
Successful Durham appeal unlikely, outside lawyers say
The co-owners of Fair Finance Co. who were sentenced Friday on federal fraud charges plan to appeal their convictions, lawyers for the two men say.
Durham asks court for 5-year sentence
Convicted Ponzi schemer Tim Durham is requesting a much shorter prison stay than the life sentence federal prosecutors want him to serve.
Chapter 11 filing fee increases
The filing fee for a Chapter 11 case in the United States Bankruptcy Court in Indiana is now $1,213. The fee change went into effect Nov. 21.
Southern District proposes mandatory e-filing, pro hac rule changes
Nearly all federal court filings in the Southern District will have to be done electronically under local rule changes proposed for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.
Bankruptcy filings down across US, Indiana
Bankruptcy cases filed in federal courts for the 12-month period ending Sept. 30 were down 14 percent as compared to fiscal year 2011, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts announced Wednesday. Filings are down more than 11 percent in the Northern and Southern District courts of Indiana.
Indianapolis attorney appointed to bankruptcy court
Faegre Baker Daniels LLP partner James M. Carr has been appointed to a 14-year term as U.S. Bankruptcy Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Carr joins the bench Jan. 1.