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.
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
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 14, 2025, the revision of certain Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Please see the Public Notice linked below for more details.
Indianapolis, Indiana (September 9, 2025): 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 Hispanic neighborhood and served as a cultural center for the area's Latino community. 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 8, 2025, 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 and registration information, please see the full Press Release.
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.
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 9, 2025, regarding the proposed amendments. 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 to the Local Rules of this Court are adopted, effective July 1, 2025. Please see the full Public Notice linked below.
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:
Report scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center and the Federal Trade Commission.
Indianapolis, Indiana – January 22, 2025: The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana continues to receive reports of scammers posing as local law enforcement officials and calling individuals – often professionals such as attorneys and health care providers – to accuse them of allegedly failing to appear as an expert witness at a court hearing or trial.
Recipients of such calls are told they have been found in contempt of court and, if they fail to pay a fine, will be arrested. Using threats and scare tactics, the scammers then entice their victim to pay this "fine" with cash cards or other electronic payment. Making this scam even more nefarious, the scammers spoof government phone numbers and provide their victim with the names of real law enforcement officers, real court officials, and real judges. Even if the names are real, the "fine" is fake.
This is a scam. Real courts and real law enforcement officers will never call someone and demand a payment for any reason. If you receive such a call, hang up 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:
Federal courts across the nation face a worsening shortage of Article III judges, resulting in countless Americans suffering delays in the resolution of their legal matters. The Southern District of Indiana is joining the push for Congress to pass the JUDGES Act, a bill that would add 66 district judgeships, two new circuit judgeships, and convert or extend certain existing temporary judgeships to improve access to justice and to meet increasing case filings in the federal courts. One of those additional district judgeships would be in the Southern District of Indiana, where the weighted caseload in the year ending June 30, 2024, ranked nineteenth in the United States and third in the Seventh Circuit. See the Press Release for full details.
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 September 23, 2024, 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 to the Local Rules of this Court are adopted, effective December 1, 2024. Please see the Public Notice linked below for more details.
Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt announced today that the judges of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana have selected Kristine Seufert to serve as Clerk of Court, effective October 7, 2024. Ms. Seufert will fill the vacancy created by the departure of current Clerk Roger A. G. Sharpe on October 4, 2024. Please see full Press Release linked below.
Press Release - Judges Select Attorney Kristine Seufert as New Clerk of Court
