Justin R. Olson was sworn in as United States District Judge for the Southern District of Indiana on February 20, 2026. With the support of Senators Todd Young and Jim Banks, President Trump nominated Judge Olson for the position on December 1, 2025, to the seat created by Judge Jane Mangus-Stinson’s assumption of senior status in 2024. The Senate confirmed Judge Olson on February 5, 2026.

Prior to his appointment as District Judge, Judge Olson was an attorney at Kroger, Gardis & Regas, LLP, focusing on government investigations, business litigation, and Title IX litigation.

Judge Olson began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush of the Indiana Supreme Court. From 2015-2019, he was an Associate in the Indianapolis office of Faegre Baker Daniels LLP (now Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP) in the firm’s business litigation group. From 2019-2024, Judge Olson served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana in the Civil Division. As an AUSA, he served as the Civil Health Care Fraud Coordinator and Civil Opioid Coordinator, investigating and civilly prosecuting health care fraud. Judge Olson also represented federal employees in civil litigation involving personal injury, medical malpractice, and excessive force. 

Judge Olson was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin but grew up in Indianapolis. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 2010 from Grove City College. He majored in History and French and spent his junior year studying abroad in Grenoble, France. He obtained his law degree from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2013 and was admitted to the Indiana bar the same year.