Federal judge blocks Indiana’s noon deadline for receiving mail-in ballots
A federal judge on Tuesday blocked a state law that declares mail-in absentee ballots late and invalid if they aren’t received by noon on Election Day.
Senior Judge Sarah Evans Barker
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Suit: Challenged law may invalidate tens of thousands of Indiana mail-in ballots
An estimated 10,000 Hoosiers’ mail-in absentee ballots were rejected as “late” during Indiana’s 2020 primary election under a disputed Indiana law, suggesting multiple times more ballots may be thrown out in the Nov. 3 general election, groups challenging the law in federal court contend.
Indiana ordered to reply by Monday to vote-by-mail appeal
The state of Indiana has been ordered to respond by Monday to an appeal in a federal lawsuit seeking no-excuse absentee voting in the Nov. 3 general election, signaling the appellate court in Chicago may fast-track the challenge over mail-in voting just over two months ahead of the election.
Court ruling against Indiana no-excuse absentee voting appealed
A federal appeals court is being asked to take an expedited appeal of a ruling against no-excuse absentee voting in Indiana’s Nov. 3 general election, or to enter an immediate injunction that would permit all Hoosiers to vote by mail due to the pandemic.
Federal rulings block Indiana voter roll purge, absentee ballot signature match law
Finding Indiana’s process for matching signatures on absentee ballots is unconstitutional, a federal judge has permanently enjoined the Secretary of State and other election officials from rejecting any mail-in ballot on the basis of a signature mismatch without providing adequate notice to the voter.
High court permits expansion of mail-in voting for 1 state
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday left in place an agreement that allows Rhode Island residents to vote by mail through November’s general election without getting signatures from two witnesses or a notary. The order was immediately cited in a lawsuit seeking to expand mail-in voting in Indiana.
Suit: Election Day deadline to receive mailed ballots disenfranchises voters
Indiana law that says mail-in ballots must be received by noon on Election Day will disenfranchise voters and should be blocked, a federal lawsuit filed Thursday says.
7th Circuit snuffs out injunction on state smokable hemp law
An injunction prohibiting the state government from prosecuting certain uses of smokable hemp has been lifted after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals found the prohibition was overbroad. But when the smoke clears, the appellate panel said a revised injunction may still be appropriate.
‘Antilawyering’ means court defeat for would-be Indy developer, 7th Circuit affirms
Failure to follow local court rules led to defeat for a would-be developer suing the city of Indianapolis, an outcome upheld Wednesday by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
7th Circuit snuffs out injunction on Indiana smokable hemp law
An injunction prohibiting the state government from prosecuting certain uses of smokable hemp has been lifted after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals found the prohibition was overbroad. But when the smoke clears, the appellate panel said a revised injunction may still be appropriate.
SCOTUS denies cert petition against South Bend abortion clinic
U.S. Supreme Court justices rejected a third Indiana abortion case on Thursday, refusing to hear a petition filed against an embattled South Bend abortion clinic that was permitted by a federal judge to open last summer.
SCOTUS considering South Bend abortion clinic case without evidence of clinic corrections
The bid to take yet another Indiana abortion case to the United States Supreme Court will proceed without evidence of a South Bend abortion clinic’s efforts to correct state licensing violations. The procedural ruling comes as the nation’s highest court is set to consider the case in conference Friday.
Former Attica High School coach sentenced to 24 years for child porn
A former Attica High School assistant track coach has been sentenced to 24 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges of production and possession of child pornography. Jeremy Kelley, 41, of Attica, was sentenced by U.S. Southern District Court Senior Judge Sarah Evans Barker, U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler announced Monday.
Federal judge rules in Indy financial adviser’s favor in exit from firm
A recent ruling by a federal judge in Indianapolis could make it easier for financial advisers who switch firms to tell clients about the move without fear of legal consequences.
Honoring the honorable: Marshall added, Dred Scott author removed from Southern District mural
Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, arguably best known for authoring the notorious 1857 majority opinion in Dred Scott v. Sanford, used to be featured in an Indiana Southern District Court mural. But his name was recently replaced with “Marshall,” representing longest-serving Chief Justice John Marshall and Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall, the court’s first African-American justice.
Federal judges share experiences of judicial nomination, appointments
Several judges spoke candidly about their personal judicial nomination experiences on Friday in honor of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana’s 12th annual court history and continuing legal education symposium.
History of judicial confirmation process to be featured at federal court symposium
The Southern Indiana District Court will be providing some perspective on the federal confirmation process as part of its 12th Annual Court History and Continuing Legal Education Symposium.
Judge rebuffs bid for class of all 91 Indiana prosecutors in abortion clinic case
An out-of-state abortion provider who was granted permission to open a South Bend clinic last month after the state denied a permit lost its bid Tuesday to certify a defendant class made up of every elected prosecuting attorney in Indiana.
Federal court blocks Indiana law banning smokable hemp
Indiana’s law criminalizing smokable hemp has been snuffed out, at least temporarily, by a federal court, which found the proponents of hemp made convincing arguments that the federal farm bill of 2018, expanding the definition of hemp and removing the plant from the federal schedule of controlled substances, pre-empted the state statute.
Ban on Indiana abortion parental notification law upheld
A federal appeals court has upheld an injunction blocking a 2017 Indiana law that would have required parental notification for mature minors seeking an abortion. One member of the three-judge panel dissented, however, and would have allowed the law to take effect.