Lawsuit settled over Indiana sheriff’s shoving of teenager
A federal lawsuit over allegations that the Allen County sheriff shoved a 15-year-old boy after drinking alcohol at a festival has been dismissed after the county agreed to a settlement.
Northern District
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Kirsch questioned about Chicago crime guns during confirmation hearing
During his allotted time to question Thomas Kirsch II about his potential confirmation to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, bypassed all inquiries about the judiciary and pressed the nominee on the flow of guns from Indiana to Chicago.
Ex-Purdue prof, wife get probation for research funds fraud
A former Purdue University professor and his wife have been sentenced to probation and ordered to pay a combined $1.6 million in restitution after pleading guilty to using more than $1 million in federal research funds for their own personal expenses.
Kirsch pressed on originalism at 7th Circuit confirmation hearing
As many judicial nominees before him have done, Thomas Kirsch II told the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee that he would apply the law as written but his explanations of how he would interpret statutes brought intense scrutiny from senators on both sides of aisle.
Jury duty? No thanks, say many, forcing trials to be delayed
Jury duty notices have set Nicholas Philbrook’s home on edge with worries about him contracting the coronavirus and passing it on to his father-in-law, a cancer survivor with diabetes in his mid-70s who is at higher risk of developing serious complications from COVID-19.
Sentencing set for ex-Whiting mayor over campaign fund misuse
A former northwestern Indiana mayor faces a January sentencing after pleading guilty to charges that he illegally used public campaign donations to cover gambling losses.
Dozens of district courts suspend jury trials as COVID-19 cases surge
As a sharp rise in coronavirus cases sweeps the nation, nearly two dozen U.S. district courts – including both in Indiana – have ordered for the suspension of jury trials or grand jury proceedings, federal courts announced.
Confirmation hearing for Kirsch set for today
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana Thomas Kirsch II is scheduled to appear before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday as he begins the confirmation process to fill the vacancy on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals created by the appointment of Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Southern District to halt trials, naturalizations due to COVID-19
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana announced Friday it is suspending jury trials and cancelling naturalization ceremonies in response to the continuing surge of COVID-19 cases in the state.
Hammond loses motion to dismiss after counsel makes misleading representation
An employment discrimination lawsuit against the city of Hammond will proceed after a federal court denied a motion to dismiss, finding counsel for the city had made misleading representations about her knowledge of the plaintiff’s hospitalization for a stroke.
Judge changes course, opts to keep ex-mayor’s bribery case
A federal judge who last week recused herself from the bribery case of a former northwestern Indiana mayor has changed course and will preside over the man’s retrial after all.
Indiana Southern District bankruptcy petition fees to increase
Filing fees for bankruptcy petitions in the Southern District of Indiana will increase in less than a month, the bankruptcy court has announced.
Indiana Northern District judge recuses herself from Portage mayor’s bribery retrial
A federal judge has recused herself from the bribery case of a former northwestern Indiana mayor only days after setting a date for his retrial in that case.
7th Circuit affirms consecutive federal, state sentences for South Bend crimes
How should federal judges decide whether sentences in federal prosecutions should run consecutively to or concurrently with sentences in unrelated state prosecutions? The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals tackled that question in a Monday decision, affirming a man’s decades-long sentence for his part in a South Bend kidnapping.
Indiana woman gets 6½ years for financing terrorism
An Indiana woman who pleaded guilty to providing financial support to the Islamic State group has been sentenced to 6½ years in prison, the Justice Department said Monday.
Ex-Portage mayor faces retrial on bribery charge
A former northwestern Indiana mayor is facing a December retrial on a federal charge alleging that he solicited a bribe from two local businessmen.
National bankruptcy filings continue decline despite COVID unemployment
Despite continued high unemployment related to the coronavirus pandemic, personal and business bankruptcy filings in the United States continued a sharp decline for the second straight quarter.
Gang member who says he beat up R. Kelly sentenced in deaths
A convicted gang member who said he beat up jailed R&B singer R. Kelly in a Chicago cell in August has been sentenced by an Indiana court to life in prison for a racketeering conviction that involved two 1999 murders.
Web Exclusive: Jury social media cautions revamped
Twenty years ago, most people learned about major court cases and trials from newspapers or local television stations. But with myriad online distribution channels and social media available at virtually everyone’s fingertips, staying up to date with the latest news has become and more accessible than ever.
Federal prosecutor on deck to fill potential 7th Circuit vacancy
Thomas L. Kirsch II, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, has been nominated by the White House to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. He is in line to fill Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s seat on the appellate court if she is confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court.