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News & Announcements: 06/2022

Check this page, or the News and Announcements box on the homepage, for the latest official news and announcements released by the court. You can also access archived news and announcements from this page.

Wed, 2022-06-22
U.S. District Court Warns of Scam Phone Calls

Indianapolis, Indiana – June 22, 2022:  The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana has received reports from victims who have been contacted by scammers claiming to be with the “sheriff's office,” requesting that the victims pay fines allegedly ordered by Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt for failure to appear for jury service.

This is a scam. A court will never call someone and demand a payment. If you receive such a call, hang up immediately. You can then call the court directly at 317-229-3700, and legitimate court staff will verify that the victim does not owe any money, has no outstanding warrants, and has not been summoned for jury duty.

Residents of the Southern District of Indiana who believe they have been the victim of such a scam are encouraged to report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/.

Here is additional information on things to remember, who to call, and what to do if you are contacted by a scammer:

  • Authenticate an email or call by contacting the Clerk’s Office of the U.S. District Court in Indianapolis at (317) 229-3700 to verify that the court is not requiring any action from you and that the scam call did not come from the court.
     
  • Do not divulge personal information or financial information to unknown callers, including those who claim to work for a government agency.
     
  • A court will never ask for a credit/debit card number, gift card number, wire transfers, or bank routing numbers over the phone or by email for any purpose.
     
  • A fine will never be imposed until after an individual has appeared in court and been given the opportunity to explain a failure to appear. 
     
  • Report scams to the Federal Trade Commission.
     
  • You can remain anonymous when you report.
Thu, 2022-06-23
Court Announces Potential Magistrate Judge Vacancy

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (June 23, 2022):  On May 25, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Indiana Doris L. Pryor as Circuit Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.  If she is confirmed by the United States Senate, there will be a second United States Magistrate Judge vacancy in the Southern District of Indiana.

See the Press Release for full details.

Thu, 2022-06-16
Public Notice Re: Amendments to Local Rules

The Court has considered the recommendation of the Local Rules Advisory Committee that the revision of certain Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana be adopted, and the Clerk issued a Public Notice on May 16, 2022, regarding the proposed amendments. The Court has considered the proposed amendments and the comments received.  Therefore, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2071, Rule 83 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and Rule 57 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana hereby gives public notice that the following amendments (linked below) to the Local Rules of this Court are adopted, effective July 1, 2022.

  Public Notice Re: Amendments to Local Rules

 

Wed, 2022-06-01
Attorney Training and CLE Opportunity Announced

PRESS RELEASE
United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
Roger A. G. Sharpe, Clerk of Court
46 E. Ohio St.
Room 105
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Attorney Training and CLE Opportunity Announced:
Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence Satellite Attorney Recruitment & Training Program

INDIANAPOLIS (June 1, 2022) – The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana will sponsor a virtual training session for attorneys on modest means/pro bono representation of victims of domestic violence in Indiana. The training will take place on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at 10:00am EST/ 9:00am CST in the Jury Assembly Room of the Birch Bayh Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse, 46 E. Ohio St., Indianapolis, Indiana. A Zoom option will be available to those who are unable to travel to the Courthouse. The session will last 1.5 hours.

In 1994, Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act ("VAWA"). This Act, and the 1996 additions to the Act, recognize that domestic violence is a national crime and that federal laws can also help an overburdened state and local criminal justice system. The goal of the training program is to increase attorney awareness and participation in the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence's (ICADV) Satellite Attorney Program, which provides representation to victims of domestic violence. Attorneys will gain the knowledge needed to provide civil legal assistance to survivors of domestic violence for a modest means hourly rate. The training will be provided by ICADV's legal counsel, Kerry Hyatt Bennett, JD. Opening remarks will be given by the Honorable Tanya Walton Pratt, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.

The court's participation in this training event results from the 2018 passage of the POWER Act, a federal law that requires District Courts to participate in one event each year that promotes "pro bono legal services as a critical way in which to empower survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking and engaging citizens in assisting those survivors." The court is happy to partner with ICADV to support this important effort.

Attendance for this event is limited to practicing attorneys in the State of Indiana. There is no cost to attend the training and 1.5 hours of Continuing Legal Education credit has been approved.
Registration is required for this event and space is limited. Please RSVP by Friday, July 8, to INSD_CLE@insd.uscourts.gov. For more information, please contact Mary Giorgio at mary_giorgio@insd.uscourts.gov.