Judge dismisses lawsuit over Indiana’s Lake Michigan beaches
A federal judge has dismissed the latest attempt by property owners in a northwestern Indiana town to deny public access to Lake Michigan beaches.
Northern District
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Open federal judiciary seats bring calls to focus on the process
As he marked the two-month anniversary of his presidency, Joe Biden had not nominated anyone to either the federal bench or a U.S. Attorney’s Office, which distinguished him from his two most recent predecessors. One retired member of Indiana’s judiciary, however, is calling attention to the worrisome problem that beyond open positions, the state has no clearly defined process for identifying qualified Hoosiers to fill the vacancies.
Ruling for homeowner in quiet title action after bankruptcy vacated
An Indiana trial court order in favor of a Hammond homeowner in her quiet title action following a bankruptcy was vacated Friday by the Indiana Court of Appeals, which found the trial court lacked jurisdiction.
Drug sentence remanded to reconsider term of supervised release
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has remanded an erroneous sentence for a drug conviction for the limited purpose of reconsidering the defendant’s term of supervised release.
Drug, firearm convictions based on ‘middlemen’ testimony affirmed
Despite the unusual use of a middleman in a law enforcement controlled drug buy, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals found sufficient evidence to uphold a Fort Wayne man’s convictions on multiple drug and firearms charges.
Northern District Court extends virtual proceedings through June 14
As the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues across Indiana, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana is extending its authorization of video and teleconferencing in court proceedings by three months.
Jury convicts former Portage mayor of bribery in retrial
A federal jury convicted a former northwestern Indiana mayor on a bribery charge Friday in his retrial on allegations he solicited and accepted a $13,000 bribe from a trucking company.
Southern Indiana District Court on list for more judges
The Judicial Conference of the United States is asking Congress to create 79 new judgeships in federal courts across the country, including adding two new permanent judges in the Southern Indiana District Court.
Maley: Recurring removal issues show numerous pitfalls
Removal from state court to federal court is a routine aspect of federal court practice, though one fraught with procedural pitfalls. Federal judges in Indiana frequently address removal issues, yet errors continue.
Report: Federal civil cases soared, criminal filings fell in 2020
In a year unlike any other, marked by an unrelenting pandemic and social unrest, the federal judiciary witnessed a dramatic surge in civil case filings while criminal matters sharply declined. The national trend, however, was not the experience of Indiana’s federal courts.
ALJ’s denial of disability benefits over potential side effects upheld
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed an administrative law judge’s decision that a northern Indiana woman is not disabled, finding that any conclusions about her medication’s side effects would be pure speculation.
Woman’s 30-year federal sex trafficking sentence upheld on appeal
A northwestern Indiana woman who operated three massage spas and was convicted of sex trafficking in a case a federal court called “a modern form of slavery” lost an appeal of her conviction and 30-year sentence Thursday.
Insurer must pay malpractice settlement, 7th Circuit affirms
Judgment against an insurer in the most recent decision involving a nearly 20-year-old medical malpractice case was affirmed Tuesday by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Jury selection set in ex-Portage mayor’s bribery retrial
Jury selection is set to begin Monday in a former northwestern Indiana mayor’s long-delayed retrial on a federal charge alleging that he solicited a bribe from two businessmen.
Goshen bankruptcy preparer pleads guilty to federal indictment
A nonlawyer who prepared bankruptcy petitions for northern Indiana clients has pleaded guilty to two counts of subornation of perjury for falsely claiming in court filings that she was paid half the fee she actually charged clients.
Indiana woman admits spending $86K in public funds on self
A Jay County woman has pleaded guilty to diverting more than $86,000 in public funds and spending it on personal indulgences during her time as a township trustee.
Farmworkers awarded $460K in wage theft, labor trafficking judgment
A northern Indiana federal court has ordered a farm in Fowler and its owners to pay more than $460,000 in compensation and damages to nine farmworkers who alleged they were forced to work without pay, housed in abysmal conditions and threatened, among other claims.
Indiana Southern District to resume in-person jury trials in April
The Southern Indiana District Court has announced plans to resume in-person jury trials in April following a months-long hiatus due to the pandemic. Jury trials in Southern District courts are expected to resume April 5, and clerk offices in all divisions will reopen to the public next week.
Justice Department seeks resignations of Trump-era U.S. attorneys
The Justice Department will ask U.S. attorneys who were appointed by former President Donald Trump to resign from their posts, as the Biden administration moves to transition to its own nominees, a senior Justice Department official said Monday.
Maley: Senior status for Springmann, Flaum creates vacancies
Rules governing divisional jurisdiction vary in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, as illustrated by some recent rulings.