The United States District Court, Bankruptcy Court, and Probation Office for the Southern District of Indiana and the Indianapolis Bar Association's Women & the Law Division are proud to celebrate Women's History Month with a special event on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 3:00 pm. The hour-long program will be held in Courtroom 202 at the Birch Bayh Federal Building and United States Courthouse, 46 East Ohio Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. A Zoom link will also be available for those unable to attend in person. Registration is required for both in-person and virtual attendance.

In a question-and-answer format, District Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson will interview Chief Justice (retired) Maureen O'Connor from the State of Ohio. Chief Justice O'Connor will share her insights on the consequences of partisan elections for state Supreme Court Justices, as well as the role of the judicial branch in combatting the opioid epidemic, substance abuse, and mental health disorders, and in addressing bail reform. Chief Justice O'Connor's post-retirement activities involving redistricting and Ohio's ballot initiative provisions will also be discussed. 

Full details are available in the Press Release. 

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:

• 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.

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.

  Public Notice Re:  Amendments to Local Rules

INDIANAPOLIS (September 16, 2024) – On Friday, November 22, 2024, at the Historical Society of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana's 17th Annual Court History & Continuing Legal Education Symposium, an esteemed panel will discuss Senator Lugar's decades of leadership and public service, his civic impact, and the legacy and example he leaves for future generations of Hoosiers. The program, which takes place at the Birch Bayh Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse, will also feature a panel discussion on mental health for judges and lawyers. Complete details and registration information can be found in the Press Release.