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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, 2020-08-11
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Dr. Dan-el Padilla Peralta

On Friday, September 25, 2020, at 3:00 pm EDT, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana and the Indiana State Bar Association Latino Affairs Committee will welcome Dr. Padilla Peralta as the keynote speaker at their fourth annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration. Due to social distancing limitations caused by the ongoing pandemic, the event will be held virtually.

At the age of four, Dan-el Padilla Peralta arrived in New York City from the Dominican Republic. Despite his undocumented status, the young boy rose from poverty and homelessness to obtain his Ph.D. and is now an Associate Professor of Classics at Princeton University. Dr. Padilla Peralta's presentation will focus on historical and contemporary approaches to the dilemmas of citizenship. For further details and registration information, see the Press Release.

Wed, 2020-07-29
Press Release: Court Suspends Jury Trials Through September 1

Chief Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson today issued a General Order that suspends jury trials in all divisions of the Southern District of Indiana through and including at least August 31, 2020; subject to further order of the Court, some jury trials may resume on September 1, 2020. Please see the Press Release for further information.

Wed, 2020-07-29
General Order Re: Continued Court Operations Under the Exigent Circumstances Created by COVID-19 and Related Coronavirus (Continued Jury Trials)

During the months of March, April, May, and June 2020, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana issued several General Orders regarding Court operations in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These orders, among other things, continued all jury trials and discussed delays caused by criminal trial continuances with respect to the Speedy Trial Act. On June 26, 2020, the Court issued a General Order providing for the resumption of modified Court operations in certain circumstances, including the resumption of some jury trials. However, as of this date, all jury trials are continued through and including at least August 31, 2020, and subject to further order of the Court, certain jury trials may resume beginning September 1, 2020.

  General Order Re: Continued Court Operations Under the Exigent Circumstances Created by COVID-19 and Related Coronavirus (Continued Jury Trials)

Fri, 2020-06-26
General Order Re: Continued Court Operations Under the Exigent Circumstances Created by COVID-19 and Related Coronavirus (Courthouses Reopening)

On March 18, 2020 and March 20, 2020, the Court issued General Orders closing all Courthouses in the Southern District of Indiana to the public, finding that closure was warranted in light of the risks presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. To the extent this Order differs from previous orders of the Court on this subject, this Order supersedes and replaces those Orders.  Please see General Order linked below outlining the details on courthouses reopening.

General Order Re: Continued Court Operations Under the Exigent Circumstances Created by COVID-19 and Related Coronavirus (Courthouses Reopening)

 

Fri, 2020-06-26
Press Release: Two General Orders Re: Continued Court Operations Under the Exigent Circumstances Created by COVID-19 and Related Coronavirus

Chief Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson today issued two General Orders, one that announces date on which the courthouses of the Southern District of Indiana will reopen to the public, and the second providing dates for the resumption of an array of in-person court proceedings, among other matters. To the extent these Orders differ from previous orders of the Court on this subject, these Orders supersede and replace those Orders.  Please see Press Release linked below for more details.
 

Press Release:  Two General Orders Re: Continued Court Operations Under the Exigent Circumstances Created by COVID-19 and Related Coronavirus

Fri, 2020-06-26
General Order Re: Continued Court Operations Under the Exigent Circumstances Created by COVID-19 and the Related Coronavirus

During the months of March, April, May, and June 2020, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana issued several General Orders regarding Court operations in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These orders, among other things, closed all Courthouses in the Southern District of Indiana to the public, continued all jury trials, cancelled all naturalization ceremonies, and discussed delays caused by criminal trial continuances with respect to the Speedy Trial Act. To the extent this Order differs from previous orders of the Court on this subject, this Order supersedes and replaces those Orders.  Plesae see General Order linked below outlining details regarding Civil Service by United States Marshals Service, In-Person Proceedings, Speedy Trial Act, and Naturalization Ceremonies.

General Order Re: Continued Court Operations Under the Exigent Circumstances Created by COVID-19 and the Related Coronavirus

Fri, 2020-06-12
General Order Re: Face Coverings in Courthouses Under the Exigent Circumstances Created by COVID-19 and Related Coronavirus

Due to the threat to public health and safety currently posed by COVID-19 and the related coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and other public health and governmental authorities have advised individuals and entities to take precautions to slow the spread of COVID-19, including recommending the wearing of face coverings in public settings.  Upon consideration of this public health guidance, it is necessary to require entrants and occupants of all courthouses in the Southern District of Indiana to wear face coverings.  Please see General Order linked below.

  General Order Re: Face Coverings in Courthouses Under the Exigent Circumstances Created by COVID-19 and Related Coronavirus

Fri, 2020-06-05
General Order Re: Continued Court Operations Under the Exigent Circumstances Created by COVID-19 and the Related Coronavirus

During the months of March, April, and May 2020, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana issued several General Orders regarding Court operations in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These orders, among other things, continued all jury trials, cancelled all naturalization ceremonies, and discussed delays caused by criminal trial continuances with respect to the Speedy Trial Act. To the extent this Order differs from previous orders of the Court on this subject, this Order supersedes and replaces those prior orders.

  General Order Re: Continued Court Operations Under the Exigent Circumstances Created by COVID-19 and the Related Coronavirus

Tue, 2020-01-14
Scammers Posing as Court Employees

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana has been informed that scammers are calling individuals with cases pending before the court, posing as court staff, and requesting that the victim provide his or her Social Security number. A court official or other government employee will never contact someone and demand personal information or payment by phone or email.

Residents of the Southern District of Indiana who believe they have been the victim of this scam are encouraged to report the incident to the District Court Clerk’s Office at 317-229-3700 and the Federal Trade Commission at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov. For additional information things to remember, who to call, and what to do if you are contacted by a scammer, view the Press Release. 

Thu, 2019-04-25
U.S. District Court Reissues Press Release Warning of Jury Duty Scam

On November 28, 2017, Chief U.S. District Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson and U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler warned the public of a nationwide scam in which individuals pose as government officials and claim the victim is about to be arrested for failing to appear for jury duty, failing to pay an IRS penalty, or defaulting on a legal or contractual obligation. Individuals are told that they can avoid arrest by paying a fine. The contact may be via telephone, email, or written correspondence. The Southern District of Indiana has become aware that in an attempt to make the scam more convincing, perpetrators are using the names of real government officials, including the name of Clerk Laura Briggs. Also, in some cases, the scammers are “spoofing” real courthouse phone numbers, making it appear as though the call is coming from the courthouse. Please be advised that the U.S. Courts do not operate in this way. Federal Court officials will never call or e-mail a member of the public to demand payment. Anyone receiving such a phone call or e-mail is welcome to call the District Court Clerk’s Office at 317-229-3700 to verify that the attempt to collect payment is a scam. The full press release is linked below.

 Jury Scam Press Release

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