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 of the following: The Local Rules Advisory Committee for the Southern District of Indiana has recommended, and the District Court has authorized release for a period of public comment through October 15, 2026, the revision of certain Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Please see the full Public Notice for details.
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News & Announcements
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.
Tue, 2026-09-15
Indianapolis, Indiana (September 15, 2026): Latinos began arriving in Indiana in the late 1800s and have made significant contributions to Hoosier culture since that time. In Indianapolis, "El Barrio" was the city's first known Latino neighborhood. Located on the near east side of downtown, it and other culturally significant neighborhoods were razed in the late 1960s to make way for Indianapolis's modern interstate system. On Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 2:00 pm EDT, the U.S. District Court, Bankruptcy Court, and Probation Office for the Southern District of Indiana and the Indiana State Bar Association will host "Crossroads for Change: Remembering the Past, Rebuilding the Future," a panel presentation focused on the significance of "El Barrio" and its demise. The presentation will dive into the intersection of history, law, public policy, and lessons learned for future growth and development in Indianapolis. For full details, see the Press Release.
Mon, 2026-09-14
A formal investiture ceremony celebrating the appointment of Justin R. Olson as United States District Judge for the Southern District of Indiana took place on Friday, September 11, 2026, in Indianapolis. Please see the Press Release for further information.
Wed, 2026-07-15
The Honorable James R. Sweeney II, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, is pleased to announce the selection of Ms. Liberty L. Roberts for the position of United States Magistrate Judge in the Indianapolis Division. Please see the Press Release for full details.
Fri, 2026-06-12
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 redline amendments to the Local Rules of this Court are adopted, effective July 1, 2026. Please click link below for the full notice.
Fri, 2026-04-17
INDIANAPOLIS (April 17, 2026) – From an exploration of the trial that followed the "Crime of the Century" to a look at what makes the best of the lawyerly best, the 18th Annual Court History & Continuing Legal Education Symposium promises to be an educational and entertaining afternoon. The program will take place on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, from 12:30 PM to 3:45 PM in the Sarah Evans Barker Courtroom (Courtroom 216) at the Birch Bayh Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse, 46 E. Ohio St., Indianapolis, Indiana. A Zoom link will be available to those who cannot attend in-person. The program is organized by the Historical Society of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana and sponsored by the Court. Three hours of Indiana CLE credit are approved. Registration is required. For full details, see the Press Release.
Fri, 2026-02-20
The Honorable James R. Sweeney II, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, is pleased to announce that Justin R. Olson was sworn in as United States District Judge for the Southern District of Indiana this morning. Please see the press release for more information.
Wed, 2025-09-24
Chief Judge James R. Sweeney II today issued a general order reflecting a nationwide change in how sealed documents may be accessed electronically. Effective immediately, only authorized court employees will have access to sealed documents in CM/ECF. Please see the full Public Announcement linked below.
Public Announcement Re: Electronic Access to Sealed Documents and Service of Sealed Documents
Fri, 2025-07-11
Effective July 11, 2025, the Honorable James R. Sweeney II assumed the role of Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Chief Judge Sweeney succeeds the Honorable Tanya Walton Pratt, who had served as Chief Judge since March 20, 2021. Please see the Press Release for full details.
Fri, 2025-05-02
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana has received reports of scammers posing as local law enforcement officials who call or email potential victims, falsely claiming that the person has an outstanding warrant or has been held in contempt of court. Sometimes the scammers target professionals—in particular, attorneys or health care providers—and accuse them of allegedly failing to appear as an expert witness at a court hearing or trial.
Recipients of such calls and emails are told they can pay a fine to have the outstanding warrant expunged or avoid arrest. Using threats and scare tactics, the scammers then entice their victim to pay this "fine" with cash cards or other electronic payment. The scammers often spoof real government phone numbers and provide their victim with the names of real law enforcement officers, real court officials, and real judges.
This is a scam. Real courts and real law enforcement officers will never call or email someone and demand a payment for any reason. If you receive such a call or email, hang up or delete immediately.
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 Bureau of Investigation's Internet Crime Complaint Center ("IC3") at https://www.ic3.gov, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/. Additional information about this scam is available on the FTC's website.
Here are some tips on things to remember and what to do if you are contacted by anyone claiming to be a law enforcement officer or court official:
- Only scammers will call, text, or email demanding that you pay by cash, gift card, cryptocurrency, payment app, or a wire transfer service. No court official or law enforcement officer will ever make such a demand.
- Real law enforcement and real court officials will never demand that you pay fines by phone.
- Real law enforcement and real court officials will never call to say you’re going to be arrested (or threaten to arrest you if you hang up).
- Do not divulge personal information or financial information to unknown callers, including those who claim to work for the government.
- 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 Internet Crime Complaint Center and the Federal Trade Commission.