Former Carmel swim coach sentenced for sexual exploitation
A former Carmel swim coach has been sentenced to 16 years and eight months in federal prison for sexually exploiting one of the girls he coached.
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Investiture ceremony for Judge Hanlon Friday
Judge James Patrick Hanlon, the newest addition to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, will be formally sworn in at a special ceremony starting at 2 p.m. Friday in the Birch Bayh Federal Building and United States Courthouse. Southern Indiana Chief Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson will preside over the en banc ceremony in the William E. Steckler Ceremonial Courtroom.
Judge: Exonerated man’s suit against Elkhart police may proceed
A civil rights lawsuit filed by pardoned ex-prisoner Keith Cooper has been allowed to continue, with a federal judge ruling Tuesday that Cooper’s federal malicious prosecution and related claims are not time-barred. However, the judge also raised questions as to whether the relevant statute of limitations should be revised.
Senate Judiciary Democrats hold over federal judicial nominees
In holding over nearly 50 judicial nominees Tuesday, including two renominees for the Northern Indiana District Court, Democrats on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee called for a return to the traditions of honoring blue slips and relying on the American Bar Association’s evaluations.
Judge to DOC: Restore credit time for ‘unreasonable and arbitrary’ sanction
The Department of Correction must restore nearly six months of lost credit time to a Westville inmate after a federal judge determined the inmate’s disciplinary loss of credit time was “unreasonable and arbitrary.
Acting AG Whitaker says Russia probe ‘close’ to being completed
The special counsel’s Russia probe is “close to being completed,” the acting attorney general said in the first official sign that the investigation may be wrapping up. Meanwhile, the sixth former Trump aide indicted in the probe is due to make his initial court appearance today.
Indiana federal courts work as funds dwindle amid shutdown
In the Southern and Northern Indiana district courts, no workers have been furloughed and no pay periods have been skipped, but with the federal judiciary estimating it has funding only to sustain current levels of operations through the end of January, Hoosier jurisdictions are preparing for potential changes.
Brady, Leichty renominated to Northern Indiana District Court
The two nominees for the Northern Indiana District Court are among 51 judicial candidates the White House has renominated for the federal bench.
Indiana case shines spotlight on solitary confinement
No one denies that Aaron Isby-Israel made bad, even criminal, choices that landed him in the Indiana Department of Correction. What is disputed is whether Isby should have remained in solitary confinement for a total of 28 years.
Ex-Gary city employee convicted in scheme to resell electronics
A former government employee in northwestern Indiana has been convicted in a scheme to use funds from the City of Gary to buy more than 1,000 pieces of computer equipment that she then resold.
South Bend attorney wanted for mail fraud arrested in Florida
An Indiana attorney wanted on several charges of mail fraud against elderly victims he allegedly exploited as part of an investment scheme has been arrested after federal authorities found him in Florida, according to the FBI.
Federal courts’ cost-cutting extends funding another week
With the partial shutdown of the federal government the longest in history, the federal judiciary announced its cost-cutting measures have given it enough funding to remain in session at least until Jan. 25.
Woman settles lawsuit over jailing due to mistaken identity
A northwest Indiana woman who alleged she was wrongfully held in the Valparaiso jail for nearly two months in a case of mistaken identity has reached a $6,000 settlement in the case.
Magistrate Judge Cherry retires with legacy of being ‘consummate professional’
Northern Indiana District Court Magistrate Judge Paul Cherry has retired, ending a career that included six years as DeKalb County prosecutor and 15-plus years on the federal bench. Cherry, who began his tenure as magistrate judge on Oct. 1, 2003, retired Dec. 31, 2018.
Truckers sue the state for increased toll road fees
A group of truck drivers is suing Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb for the increases in toll road fees that took effect last year along the 157-mile Indiana Toll Road across the northernmost counties of the state.
SEC wins order to depose Canadian suspect in nearly $1M penny stock con
A Canadian accused in an Indiana federal court of a “scalping” scheme to fraudulently drive up the price of a penny stock while selling off his own shares for a profit of almost $1 million must answer questions in a U.S. deposition before the Securities and Exchange Commission, a judge has ruled. The SEC accuses Michael Skerry of New Westminster, British Columbia, of executing the scheme, in which regulators allege he profited by about $950,000.
Judge: State’s ‘bureaucratic quagmire’ harms disabled woman
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration has 21 days to arrange home health care for an elderly woman with quadriplegia who has been confined to a hospital or nursing home since February 2016, a federal judge has ruled. The decision comes after the judge ruled previously that the FSSA’s failure to develop a home-based care plan violated the woman’s rights under three federal laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Florida man accused of threatening Tyler Trent’s family to be extradited
The FBI is investigating the case of a Florida man accused of making death threats against the family of Purdue University superfan and cancer activist Tyler Trent, who died last week. The man will be extradited to Indiana to face federal charges.
Ex-DOC nurse faces sanctions for allegedly false affidavits
A former Department of Correction nurse who treated an inmate now suing DOC for excessive force was on the stand in federal court Tuesday, facing possible sanctions after she allegedly submitted false statements claiming to be unaware of the inmate’s accusations.
Federal judiciary operating on limited funds during shutdown
Federal courts are operating on limited funds during the partial shutdown of the federal government and are working to continue sustaining paid operations through Jan. 18, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.