Judge halts enforcement of Trump asylum restrictions
A federal judge in Houston has barred the Trump administration from refusing asylum to immigrants who cross the southern border illegally.
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Indy firm leads team winning $25M Missouri telecom settlement
A seven-year court battle between Missouri landowners and a telecom company that strung fiber-optic cable across 796 miles of private property without permission or compensation has concluded with a $25 million settlement negotiated by a legal team led by an Indianapolis law firm.
Sweeney becomes newest Southern District judge at jovial investiture
A humbled Judge James R. Sweeney II was touched by the kind words and sentiments of those who honored him Friday afternoon at his public investiture ceremony as the first judge to be confirmed to the Southern District Court of Indiana since 2010.
Women students, expelled after reporting assaults, sue Purdue
Purdue University has been hit with another lawsuit over expelling students following investigations into allegations of sexual assaults, but in this instance, the students banished from the school were the accusers.
Charter school religion suit defendants awarded costs
After dismissing a First Amendment complaint that alleged a Monroe County charter school violated religious protection laws, a district court judge has awarded the Indiana superintendent of public instruction nearly $1,500 in costs and is considering an award of more than $1,800 for the school.
Judge: Indy deputy used excessive force ‘sadistically and maliciously’
A Marion County sheriff’s deputy used excessive force against a former jail inmate “sadistically and maliciously,” a federal judge determined, ruling in favor of the inmate and ordering a determination of damages he is owed.
Judge: White House must return CNN’s Acosta’s credential
A federal judge Friday ordered the Trump administration to immediately return the White House press credentials of CNN reporter Jim Acosta, saying Acosta suffered “irreparable harm” from the decision to bar him.
Trump backs first sentencing law overhaul in decades
President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced his support for the first major rewrite of the nation’s criminal justice sentencing laws in a generation, but it remains to be seen whether the proposal can pass Congress.
Judge: Race, age discrimination claims against Amazon may proceed
An age and race discrimination case against online shopping giant Amazon will proceed after a district judge in Indianapolis partially declined to dismiss claims brought by a former employee.
Flake vows to oppose judges unless Mueller bill gets a vote
Republican Sen. Jeff Flake said Wednesday that he won’t vote to confirm judicial nominees unless GOP leaders hold a vote on legislation to protect special counsel Robert Mueller from being fired.
Leichty tackles constitutional questions at Senate Judiciary hearing
Appearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary Tuesday, Damon Leichty said he was a proud Hoosier who learned much from the federal judge he clerked for and has been nominated to replace – Northern Indiana District Court Senior Judge Robert Miller, Jr. Leichty is the last federal judicial nominee to a vacancy in an Indiana court to appear before the judiciary committee.
Hanlon takes oath as Southern District judge
Faegre Baker Daniels partner James Patrick Hanlon was officially sworn in as a judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana Tuesday morning, bringing the court to a full bench for the first time since 2014. Chief Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson administered the oath to Hanlon at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
CNN sues Trump, demanding return of Acosta to White House
CNN is suing the Trump administration, demanding that correspondent Jim Acosta’s press credentials to cover the White House be returned. The administration revoked Acosta’s credentials last week, and the lawsuit claims the revocation violates the constitutional rights to freedom of the press and due process.
Scrap dealer’s request to dismiss Hammond bridge theft charge denied
A federal judge has denied a northwestern Indiana scrap metal dealer’s request to dismiss charges for allegedly demolishing a historic Hammond railroad bridge and selling the metal for $18,000. Kenneth Morrison argued the grand jury didn’t get an accurate picture of whether the city of Hammond or the railroad company owned the Monon Bridge, but Judge Philip Simon said prosecutors only have to prove Morrison had no claim to the scrap metal.
Federal Bar Update: Southern District proposes local rule changes
The Southern District of Indiana Court has published for comment proposed changes to several local rules, with the full text available on the court’s website. Several of the proposals address practices and procedures that arise in many cases.
New federal Judge Hanlon: ‘Centered, focused, unflappable’
In describing former colleague James Patrick Hanlon’s even demeanor and ability to remain cool in heated situations, Faegre Baker Daniels partner Matthew Albaugh finally had to create an original description: “not flusterable.”
Judge William Lawrence found judiciary after thrown a curve
Southern District Judge William Lawrence took senior status in July, capping a distinguished career that began when he switched from swinging for the fences on the diamond, culminating with him calling balls and strikes from the bench.
Indiana man pleads guilty to threatening abortion clinics
A northwestern Indiana man has pleaded guilty to two federal charges alleging he sent threatening messages to two abortion clinics.
Judge lets Tippecanoe Right to Life free speech case proceed
A Tippecanoe County anti-abortion group’s free speech lawsuit against the local public transportation company will continue after a district court judge denied Greater Lafayette Public Transportation Corporation’s motion for judgment on the pleadings.
Public comment sought for Southern District Bankruptcy Court proposed amendments
The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana is seeking public comment concerning proposed amendments to the court’s local rules, including some required by changes to national rules. Comments are due by 5 p.m. Nov. 28.