Martinsville schools ordered to let trans student use boys’ restroom
The Martinsville public school district has been ordered to allow a transgender middle school student to use the school restroom that aligns with his gender identity.
7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Articles
7th Circuit chastises Northern Indiana District Court for plain error in sentencing
Finding the error in sentencing affected the “fairness, integrity, and public reputation of the proceedings,” the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated a judgment and remanded an Indiana man’s sentence on federal drug charges because the district court failed to properly calculate the incarceration time under the First Step Act.
7th Circuit affirms gang member’s convictions, sentence for ‘war zone’ shootout
A northern Indiana gang member involved in a drug robbery-turned-shootout that resulted in a murder will not have his convictions overturned or sentenced reduced on federal appeal.
7th Circuit affirms summary judgment for IU on Title VII complaint by professor
An Indiana University Kelley School of Business professor didn’t have his Title VII rights violated by his employer when the school didn’t provide him with an early promotion or when it paid one of his white colleagues more than him, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled.
Family appeals after wrongful death suit tossed in Indiana
The family of a Black man who was fatally shot by a white Indiana police officer in 2019 is appealing a federal judge’s dismissal of their wrongful death lawsuit.
Federal judge tapped to fill Illinois seat on 7th Circuit
Judge John Z. Lee of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has been nominated by the Biden Administration to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals and, if confirmed, will be the first Asian American judge to serve on that bench.
Indiana Court Decisions – March 24-April 6, 2022
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the latest reporting period.
7th Circuit: IN Legislature, not state, was employer of women who accused former AG Hill of groping
Three of the four women who accused former Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill of groping them cannot sue the state under Title VII, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled, finding the legislative staffers were employed by the Indiana House and Senate, not the state itself.
7th Circuit questions its role in lawsuit against DCS
A lawsuit pushing for better treatment of children in Indiana’s foster care system met a skeptical 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on March 30, when during oral arguments the panel of judges grilled the plaintiffs’ attorney about what the federal court could actually do to help.
No ineffective counsel, habeas relief for man convicted of rape, domestic battery in state court
A man convicted of rape and battery against his ex-girlfriend in state court has failed in his bid to win habeas relief at the federal level.
Latin Kings leaders lose appeals of convictions, life sentences
A pair of northern Indiana gang leaders who were sentenced to life in prison for their roles in gang-related murders and drug activity have failed in their challenges to their convictions and sentences at the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
7th Circuit: Class certification properly denied in motel franchisee’s suit against vendor
A class certification under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act was properly denied against a motel franchisee who sued a fitness equipment vendor, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled.
7th Circuit: Proper venue for Zimmer Biomet bribery trial is Mexico
Allegations that Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc. engaged in a bribery scheme of Mexican government officials led to an “unusual twist” of Zimmer and the Mexican plaintiff each arguing against trying the case in their respective home courts, but the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the medical device manufacturer that under the forum non conveniens doctrine, the case should be dismissed from the Northern Indiana District Court.
7th Circuit: Woman injured from tripping over curb can’t hold Speedway liable
A woman who injured herself after tripping over a curb at a Speedway convenience store did not convince the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that the gas station was liable for her injuries.
Indiana Court Decisions: Feb. 24-March 9, 2022
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the most recent reporting period.
District court erred in ‘distribution’ enhancement in child porn case, 7th Circuit rules
A man convicted of transporting and possessing child pornography could have his sentence reduced after a federal appeals court determined his saving of the images in a cloud-based folder didn’t amount to “distribution.”
7th Circuit cannot reconcile ALJ’s contradictory findings, remands denial of benefits
Holding the administrative law judge failed to “clearly and rationally” articulate the reason for her finding that an Indiana woman who could sit for no longer than 15 minutes at a time would be able to perform a sedentary job, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeal remanded the case to the Social Security Administration for another review.
7th Circuit: Solitary confinement prisoner failed to exhaust administrative remedies
A prisoner who spent nearly four years in solitary confinement failed to exhaust his administrative remedies before filing a federal claim about his prison conditions. He also failed to budge a 7th Circuit Court of Appeals decision affirming judgment against him.
7th Circuit rejects felon’s ‘stalking horse’ argument
In a case of first impression, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals denied a “stalking horse” argument made by a convicted felon on parole who was caught unlawfully possessing firearms.