The Honorable Tanya Walton Pratt, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, is pleased to announce the selection of M. Kendra Klump for the position of United States Magistrate Judge. Ms. Klump will fill the vacancy created by the recent elevation of the Honorable Doris L. Pryor from Magistrate Judge of the Southern District of Indiana to Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. More information can be found in the Press Release.
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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.
Thu, 2022-11-10
The current term of office of United States Magistrate Judge Van T. Willis at New Albany, Indiana, is due to expire on May 14, 2023. The United States District Court is required by law to establish a panel of citizens to consider the reappointment of the magistrate judge to a new four-year term. Comments from members of the bar and the public are invited as to whether the incumbent magistrate judge should be recommended by the panel for reappointment and must be received by Friday, December 9, 2022. Click on the link below for more details.
Public Notice for Reappointment of Incumbent Magistrate Judge
Fri, 2022-10-28
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana came together on October 27 to celebrate and honor retiring Magistrate Judge Debra McVicker Lynch. Judge Lynch was appointed to the court on October 24, 2008, and she was reappointed in 2016. She officially steps down on October 31, 2022, concluding 14 years of dedicated service to the court. Please see the Press Release for full details.
Tue, 2022-10-25
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 12, 2022, 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, 2022. Click on the link below for the amendments.
Mon, 2022-09-12
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 12, 2022, 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 details.
Public Notice - Proposed Amendments to Local Rules
Wed, 2022-09-07
On Friday, October 7, at 2:00 pm EDT, the United States District Court, Bankruptcy Court, and Probation Office for the Southern District of Indiana and the Indiana State Bar Association Latino Affairs Committee will host their sixth annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration. This year, the keynote address will be given by the Hon. Mario Garcia, Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, and first Hispanic judge appointed to the Court. Limited in-person seating is available. Virtual participation will also be offered. Full details can be found in the Press Release.
Tue, 2022-08-02
The Honorable Tanya Walton Pratt, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, is pleased to announce the selection of Kellie M. Barr for the position of United States Magistrate Judge. Ms. Barr will fill the vacancy created by the October 31, 2022, retirement of Magistrate Judge Debra McVicker Lynch. Please see the Press Release for full details.
Thu, 2022-06-23
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (June 23, 2022): On May 25, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Indiana Doris L. Pryor as Circuit Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. If she is confirmed by the United States Senate, there will be a second United States Magistrate Judge vacancy in the Southern District of Indiana.
See the Press Release for full details.
Thu, 2022-06-16
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 16, 2022, 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 (linked below) to the Local Rules of this Court are adopted, effective July 1, 2022.
Public Notice Re: Amendments to Local Rules
Wed, 2022-06-01
PRESS RELEASE
United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
Roger A. G. Sharpe, Clerk of Court
46 E. Ohio St.
Room 105
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Attorney Training and CLE Opportunity Announced:
Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence Satellite Attorney Recruitment & Training Program
INDIANAPOLIS (June 1, 2022) – The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana will sponsor a virtual training session for attorneys on modest means/pro bono representation of victims of domestic violence in Indiana. The training will take place on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at 10:00am EST/ 9:00am CST in the Jury Assembly Room of the Birch Bayh Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse, 46 E. Ohio St., Indianapolis, Indiana. A Zoom option will be available to those who are unable to travel to the Courthouse. The session will last 1.5 hours.
In 1994, Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act ("VAWA"). This Act, and the 1996 additions to the Act, recognize that domestic violence is a national crime and that federal laws can also help an overburdened state and local criminal justice system. The goal of the training program is to increase attorney awareness and participation in the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence's (ICADV) Satellite Attorney Program, which provides representation to victims of domestic violence. Attorneys will gain the knowledge needed to provide civil legal assistance to survivors of domestic violence for a modest means hourly rate. The training will be provided by ICADV's legal counsel, Kerry Hyatt Bennett, JD. Opening remarks will be given by the Honorable Tanya Walton Pratt, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.
The court's participation in this training event results from the 2018 passage of the POWER Act, a federal law that requires District Courts to participate in one event each year that promotes "pro bono legal services as a critical way in which to empower survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking and engaging citizens in assisting those survivors." The court is happy to partner with ICADV to support this important effort.
Attendance for this event is limited to practicing attorneys in the State of Indiana. There is no cost to attend the training and 1.5 hours of Continuing Legal Education credit has been approved.
Registration is required for this event and space is limited. Please RSVP by Friday, July 8, to INSD_CLE@insd.uscourts.gov. For more information, please contact Mary Giorgio at mary_giorgio@insd.uscourts.gov.