Trump asks high court for broad enforcement of asylum rules
The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow it to prevent Central American immigrants from seeking asylum no matter where they cross the U.S. border.
Federal agencies
Articles
Pence touts Trump military, vets record during Indianapolis visit
Vice President Mike Pence touted the achievements of President Donald Trump in building up the military and improving veterans’ benefits to the American Legion’s national convention.
7th Circuit upholds firearms convictions, sentence despite evidence error
Though the district court erred in admitting certain evidence without allowing a defendant to cross-examine the related witnesses, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals still upheld that defendant’s firearms convictions and sentence Tuesday.
Ethanol producer blames Cloverdale plant closure on Trump EPA
The owner of a western Indiana ethanol plant is blaming its shutdown on the Trump administration allowing some refineries to not blend ethanol with gasoline as required under federal law.
FBI: Trucker arrested in Indianapolis threatened mass shooting
A truck driver who threatened to “shoot up” a church in Memphis and said he was haunted by “spiritual snakes and spiders” people put in his bed was arrested in Indiana, less than a week before the day of the planned attacks, authorities said in newly filed court records.
Web Exclusive: ILS files labor-trafficking suit for migrant workers
A recently filed complaint on behalf of several foreign nationals who have traveled to the United States for work has Indiana Legal Services Migrant Farmworker Law Center attorney Kristin Hoffman excited.
7th Circuit rules against inmate’s FOIA requests in triple-murder
A Southern District Court judge’s order that the federal government disclose personal information stemming from a triple murder it had previously refused to turn over has been reversed. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals found that public interest does not support the information’s disclosure, simultaneously affirming that certain documents were protected by an exception of the Freedom of Information Act.
Reports: Epstein jail guards suspected of falsifying logs
Jail guards on duty the night Jeffrey Epstein apparently killed himself in a federal prison cell in Manhattan are suspected of falsifying log entries to show they were checking on inmates every half-hour as required, according to a person familiar with the investigation into the financier’s death.
In contamination case, 7th Circuit cleans up messy preclusion fight
Even though none of the businesses disagreed over who contaminated a manufacturing site, the question of who should pay for the cleanup became a fight over claim preclusion that ended with the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals offering instructions on how the lawsuit should have been defended.
Reversal: USDA farm wetlands ruling arbitrary and capricious
A Hancock County farm family denied U.S. Department of Agriculture benefits since the removal of nine trees from their farm in the 1990s prevailed in litigation against the agency. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals entered judgment for the family, finding USDA’s rulings in the case arbitrary and capricious.
Indiana gets $8.4M from HHS to fight opioid epidemic
A federal agency has awarded Indiana $8.4 million to help fight the opioid epidemic by boosting access to substance abuse treatment and mental health services.
Man pleads guilty to robbery in Gary shootout that wounded agent
A Chicago man who was involved in an Indiana shootout in which a federal agent was wounded and another suspect was killed has pleaded guilty to robbery.
Web Exclusive: Immigration attorneys advise clients to know their rights in ‘scary time’
Before Indianapolis immigration attorney Clare Corado learned anything about the practice of law, she assumed her then-undocumented husband would be able to apply for a green card because of her U.S. citizenship. But it wasn’t so easy.
Resuming executions: As DOJ reinstates capital punishment, Southern District unsure what’s next
With federal death row in its jurisdiction, the Southern Indiana District Court is preparing but does not know what to expect as the U.S. Department of Justice moves forward with the resumption of executions after nearly two decades.
ABA, legal organizations call for independent immigration court system
The American Bar Association and three other national legal organizations have joined together in advocacy for the establishment of an independent immigration court system, requesting separation from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Authorities make arrests in Indiana gun shop burglary
Authorities say they’ve arrested suspects after 33 handguns and rifles were stolen from a central Indiana gun shop in a matter of minutes.
Charlestown zoo owner must keep big cats during animal-rights case
A federal judge is doubling down on an animal-rights ruling that prohibits the owners of a southern Indiana zoo from moving its large cats out of its possession, though the judge stopped short of issuing sanctions for an alleged failure to follow that order.
Trump says Coats is out as national intelligence director
Dan Coats, director of national intelligence, is resigning after a turbulent two years in which he and President Donald Trump were often at odds over Russian interference in the 2016 election. Trump named a GOP congressman and fierce loyalist to replace him.
Supreme Court: Trump can use Pentagon funds for border wall
The Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to tap billions of dollars in Pentagon funds to build sections of a border wall with Mexico. The court’s five conservative justices gave the administration the green light on Friday to begin work on four contracts it has awarded using Defense Department money.
Florida IP attorney’s referral agreement results in Indiana suspension
A Florida intellectual property attorney who represented Indiana clients has been suspended from the practice of law for 30 days for failing to disclose to clients that his firm was pursuing patents under an agreement with another company that charged clients to develop, protect and market their inventions.