Indiana Court Decisions: Dec. 28, 2023-Jan. 10, 2024
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the most recent reporting period.
7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Articles
7th Circuit finds no rights violations with affidavit omissions, affirms denial of motion to suppress
Detectives investigating a Marion man suspecting of dealing drugs did not deliberately make misleading omissions to obtain a search warrant of the man’s apartment, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday.
Rovner taking senior status in 7th Circuit after lengthy career on federal bench
A judge who broke ground as the first woman to serve on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has announced she will be taking senior status, creating a new vacancy for the federal appellate court.
Proffer letter signed before defendant chose to go to trial doesn’t undercut firearm conviction, 7th Circuit rules
A man challenging the proffer letter he signed during plea negotiations before ultimately choosing to go to trial failed to convince the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that he did not knowingly waive his rights in the initial agreement.
7th Circuit vacates 15-year mandatory minimum sentence after determining arson is not a ‘crime of violence’
After the Indiana Supreme Court declined to answer a certified question, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a man’s 15-year sentence after determining that the state’s 2002 definition of arson does not qualify as a crime of violence.
Indiana Court Decisions: Dec. 14-27, 2023
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ALJ not required to consult additional medical expert in denial of disability benefits, 7th Circuit affirms
An administrative law judge was correct in denying disability insurance benefits to a man who waited more than 18 months to see a doctor after hurting his back at work, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Tuesday.
Indiana Court Decisions: Nov. 30-Dec. 13, 2023
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Firearm conviction, criminal contempt upheld for defendant who proceeded pro se
A defendant who unsuccessfully defended himself in federal court and who was found in criminal contempt for refusing to answer a prosecutor’s question did not find any relief from his firearm conviction or the contempt finding at the 7th Circuit.
Death row inmate’s falsified document, perjury justified dismissal of sexual assault claim, 7th Circuit affirms
A district court’s dismissal of a death row inmate’s lawsuit that alleged sexual assault by a prison medical director was an appropriate sanction given the inmate’s litigation misconduct, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Wednesday.
ALJ properly analyzed ‘enough’ factors to support disability benefits denial, 7th Circuit rules
While an administrative law judge might have erred in his analysis of some factors in rejecting a woman’s disability benefits application, “enough” of his analysis supported his ruling, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in affirming the benefits denial.
Satanic Temple appeals dismissal of RFRA challenge to Indiana abortion law
The Satanic Temple is headed back to court as it appeals the dismissal of its challenge to Indiana’s abortion ban.
Indiana Court Decisions: Nov. 2-14, 2023
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7th Circuit rejects disability discrimination argument brought by teacher who wanted to regularly arrive late
A military teacher who said her health issues meant she needed to come into work two hours late each day could not convince the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that her employer engaged in disability discrimination.
7th Circuit finds felon-in-possession convictions to be multiplicitous
Two felon-in-possession convictions were multiplicitous, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled, but a defendant’s other challenges to his drug-related convictions and sentence failed.
7th Circuit orders district court to review injured inmate’s restitution modification request
A district court must consider on the merits an inmate’s request to modify the terms of his restitution obligation, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled.
Indiana Court Decisions: Oct. 19-Nov. 1, 2023
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No error in sentencing enhancement for man with prior conviction, 7th Circuit affirms
A district court did not plainly err in applying a sentencing enhancement to a man who pleaded guilty to distributing drugs, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled.
‘It’s 2023, for heaven’s sake’: 7th Circuit orders district court to consider reasonableness of wheelchair-accessible ramp at Shelbyville Post Office
A woman in a wheelchair fighting for a ramp at her local post office will be able to make her argument in court after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals vacated summary judgment for the United States Postal Service, which so far has refused to build the ramp.
Indiana Court Decisions: Oct. 5-18, 2023
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