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 June 11, 2026, the revision of certain Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Please see Public Notice linked below 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.
Mon, 2026-03-02
The United States District Court, Bankruptcy Court, and Probation Office for the Southern District of Indiana and the Marion County Bar Association are excited to celebrate Women's History Month with a special event on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 2:00 pm. The hour-long program will be held in Courtroom 307 at the Birch Bayh Federal Building and United States Courthouse, 46 East Ohio Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. One hour of Continuing Legal Education credit is pending approval. Attendees are invited to enjoy a reception following the event. Registration is required. Please see the press release for further information.
Fri, 2026-02-06
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is pleased to announce its 27th annual Black History Month event. This year's hour-long program, An Enduring Vision: 100 Years of Black History in the Southern District of Indiana, and Beyond, will be held in courtroom 202 at the Birch Bayh Federal Building and United States Courthouse on Friday, February 20, 2026, at 2:00 PM. A virtual option is available for those who cannot attend in person. One hour of Continuing Legal Education credit is pending approval. Please see the Press Release for more information.
Mon, 2026-02-02
After more than 15 years of dedicated service to the federal judiciary, United States Magistrate Judge Mark J. Dinsmore has notified Chief District Judge James R. Sweeney II of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana of his intention to retire on January 1, 2027. A Public Notice seeking applicants to fill the vacancy that will be created by Judge Dinsmore’s departure has been posted on the Southern District of Indiana’s website and can be accessed here: https://www.insd.uscourts.gov/employment-opportunities. See full Press Release linked below.
Fri, 2026-01-23
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana invites you to attend an important virtual training session for attorneys on modest means/pro bono representation of victims of domestic violence in Indiana. The session will be provided by Kerry Hyatt Bennett, Legal Counsel for the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV), on February 13, 2026, from 1:00pm – 2:30pm Eastern Time. Complete program details and registration information are available in the Press Release.
Mon, 2025-11-17
For most convicted felons returning to society, a simple desire to avoid recidivism isn't enough. That goal must be supported by inclusivity and accessibility to education, employment, housing, and social support services – all of which are crucial for a former inmate's successful reentry to society.
On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 2:00 pm, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana will host a conversation with two men who have experienced first-hand the importance of inclusivity and accessibility for formerly incarcerated individuals. Anne Kaiser, the court's supervisory Staff Attorney, will moderate a discussion with Mark Nicholson and John Vance, former Indiana Department of Correction inmates who have transitioned from incarceration to careers in the law. The event will take place in the William E. Steckler Ceremonial Courtroom (202) at the Birch Bayh Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 46 East Ohio Street, Indianapolis.
Mr. Nicholson is the owner and CEO of the Law Office of Mark Nicholson, where he specializes in criminal law, civil rights, personal injury, and family law. He is an adjunct professor at his alma mater, the Indiana University McKinney School of Law, where he teaches a course on prison law. A veteran, Mr. Nicholson serves on the Board of Directors for Helping Veterans and Families. He is a frequent public speaker, having presented on such topics as civil rights, prison, criminal justice, and the death penalty. Before opening his own law office, Mr. Nicholson was a law clerk and an attorney at the Public Defender of Indiana and an assistant supervisor at the Marion County Public Defender Agency.
John T. Vance is the Major Felony Paralegal Team Lead at the Marion County Public Defender Agency and a Juris Doctor candidate at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. He supports and trains a team of paralegals while contributing to litigation strategy for major felony cases. A frequent speaker and panelist on reentry, juvenile justice, and sentencing reform, John has been published in both professional and academic outlets, including Res Gestae (Indiana State Bar Association, 2025) and The Harbinger (N.Y.U. Review of Law & Social Change, 2022).
Both panelists will share stories of their paths to careers in the law, insights into the struggles of former inmates, the importance of inclusivity to successful reentry, and what judges, lawyers, and legal professionals can do to help formerly incarcerated individuals find fulfilling roles in our community. Welcome and introductory remarks will be made by Chief Judge James R. Sweeney II and The Hon. Frank Sullivan, Jr., Bicentennial Professor at the IU McKinney School of Law and former Indiana Supreme Court justice.
The event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required. Please register at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/DecemberCLE to reserve a space and indicate whether you will attend in person or virtually. Those attending virtually will receive the link upon registration, and again the day before the program with instructions on how to connect via Zoom. One hour of continuing legal education credit has been approved for this program.
Wed, 2025-10-29
As a result of the current lapse in appropriations/government shutdown, effective Monday, October 20, 2025, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana will be unable to make invoice payments until such time as funding is restored.
Unless notified in writing by a contracting officer, all Judiciary contractors must continue to fulfill their contractual obligations to the Judiciary in the event of a government shutdown, i.e., contractors must continue to comply with all terms, conditions, and delivery and performance requirements specified in their contracts during the period covered by a lapse in appropriations. The District Court will resume payment for goods and services received immediately upon the passage of budget legislation or a continuing resolution is enacted by Congress.
Please review the District Court's Pre-Lapse in Appropriations Notice to Contractors for further information.
Tue, 2025-10-28
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 amendments to the Local Rules of this Court linked below are adopted, effective December 1, 2025.
Fri, 2025-10-17
The U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is issuing this notice to apprise contractors of Judiciary-wide plans regarding contract actions that may be necessary if contract funding is affected by a lapse in appropriations, better known as a federal government shutdown.
Unless notified in writing by a contracting officer, all Judiciary contractors must continue to fulfill their contractual obligations to the Judiciary in the event of a government shutdown, i.e., contractors must continue to comply with all terms, conditions, and delivery and performance requirements specified in their contracts during the period covered by a lapse in appropriations.
The Judiciary will not provide a separate notification or communication for contracts that will not be affected by the lapse in appropriations.
The budget for the 2026 fiscal year has not yet been enacted, which could result in a temporary loss of funding for contracted supplies and services and limit the Judiciary’s ability to manage its contracts.
If a government shutdown occurs, non-excepted government activities will cease and performance under contracts may be affected. A shutdown, a sovereign act of the government, may prevent contractors and the Judiciary from fulfilling their contractual obligations to each other due to circumstances beyond their control. In other cases, the government may cancel planned procurements, reduce the scope of contracts, stop work under contracts, or terminate contracts.
Should Judiciary contracting officers determine that any of these actions is necessary, or that contractors or the Judiciary will be unable to fulfill their obligations due to a shutdown, a contracting officer will provide contractors with prompt notice and instructions for each affected contract.
Thank you for your continued support and business with the federal Judiciary, and for your cooperation as we work together to manage a potential lapse in appropriations.
Fri, 2025-10-03
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2071(e), 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 United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana has determined there is an immediate need to amend Local Rule 5-11 – Filing Under Seal – Civil Cases and Local Criminal Rule 49.1-2 – Filing Under Seal. The amendments detailed in the Notice linked below are effective as of October 3, 2025.