Portraits of Chief Judge Pratt, Judge Magnus-Stinson unveiled at federal courthouse
A ceremony Thursday unveiled new commissioned portraits of Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt and Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson inside their respective courtrooms.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
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Former IU Foundation employee sentenced to year in prison, ordered to pay restitution for embezzlement scheme
A former Indiana University Foundation employee has been sentenced to federal prison for stealing more than $300,000 in donations from the foundation over a nearly four-year span.
7th Circuit orders district court to review injured inmate’s restitution modification request
A district court must consider on the merits an inmate’s request to modify the terms of his restitution obligation, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled.
Former Brownsburg music teacher seeks summary judgment in federal religious freedom case
A former Brownsburg High School music teacher who sued the school corporation after refusing to follow its policy for addressing transgender students is now seeking summary judgment in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.
History symposium highlights Marion Co. jail overcrowding court case, changes
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana hosted its annual Court History Symposium on Friday, with two panels looking at a famous Marion County Jail overcrowding court case that took 35 years to resolve.
Indy animal shelter volunteers file 1st Amendment suit, claiming shelter officials tried to stifle critical speech
The ACLU of Indiana has filed a lawsuit against the city of Indianapolis on behalf of two animal shelter volunteers who allege Indianapolis Animal Care Services’ attempts to restrain speech that was critical of the shelter violated their constitutional rights.
No error in sentencing enhancement for man with prior conviction, 7th Circuit affirms
A district court did not plainly err in applying a sentencing enhancement to a man who pleaded guilty to distributing drugs, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled.
Community Health sets aside $75M in ‘potential settlement agreement’ with feds, whistleblower
Community Health Network has socked away $75 million in a “potential settlement agreement” with the U.S. Justice Department and a former chief financial officer who filed a whistleblower suit nearly a decade ago.
Federal judge orders city to produce some, but not all, IMPD documents related to death of Herman Whitfield
Several police documents related to the death of Herman Whitfield III can be withheld until the criminal cases against two officers involved in his death are resolved, a judge has ruled. But other documents not related to the criminal cases must be produced.
Federal judge dismisses Satanic Temple’s RFRA challenge to abortion law
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit from the Satanic Temple, which sued state and local officials in an attempt to provide mail-order abortion drugs to its members who became pregnant.
‘It’s 2023, for heaven’s sake’: 7th Circuit orders district court to consider reasonableness of wheelchair-accessible ramp at Shelbyville Post Office
A woman in a wheelchair fighting for a ramp at her local post office will be able to make her argument in court after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals vacated summary judgment for the United States Postal Service, which so far has refused to build the ramp.
On remand, federal judge denies habeas relief for man convicted of killing IU student Behrman
After previously overturning the conviction of the man convicted of murdering Indiana University student Jill Behrman, the Indiana Southern District Court on remand has declined to grant habeas relief to John Myers a second time.
Elder online dating fraud convictions upheld at 7th Circuit
There was sufficient evidence to convict a man for his role in a scheme to defraud people over 50 out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in an online dating scheme, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Wednesday.
Woman to plead guilty to leading conspiracy that defrauded Lilly of more than $600K
A Texas woman has agreed to plead guilty to leading a conspiracy to defraud Indianapolis-based drugmaker Eli Lilly and Co. out of more than $600,000 in false prescription savings cards.
Texts introduced as evidence in drug conspiracy case were harmless, 7th Circuit rules
The admission of a screenshot of a defendant’s texts with a contact during his trial on a drug-related conspiracy charge was harmless and only one piece of an “overwhelming” amount of evidence supporting his conviction, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled.
Annual court history symposium to discuss Marion Co. jail overcrowding
The 2023 Court History and Continuing Legal Education Symposium in the Indiana Southern District Court will take place next month with a focus on jail overcrowding in Marion County.
Hispanic Heritage Month CLE looks at immigration experience
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana hosted a continuing legal education event Friday to learn more about the immigration experience.
Southern District denies dismissal motion in Anderson redistricting lawsuit
A federal judge has denied a motion to dismiss an electoral redistricting lawsuit that alleges Anderson’s city council districts violate constitutional and statutory rights.
7th Circuit vacates denial of habeas petition, orders evidentiary hearing
Overturning the district court and disagreeing with a state appellate court’s analysis, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated the denial of habeas relief to a man convicted on drug charges, ordering an evidentiary hearing on his habeas petition.
Actor Elliot Page files amicus brief against Indiana law banning gender-transition care for minors
The appeal involving Indiana’s law banning gender-transition procedures for minors is continuing to attract attention from amici, including from an Oscar-nominated actor.