Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt has issued a General Order, effective Tuesday, August 3, 2021, that requires all entrants and occupants of said courthouses to wear face coverings and maintain six feet of social distancing in all public spaces, regardless of vaccination status. Please see the Press Release for further information.
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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.
Wed, 2021-06-30
INDIANAPOLIS (June 30, 2021) – 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 via Zoom on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at 11:30am EST/ 10:30am CST. The session will last 1.5 hours. Full details are available in the Press Release.
Wed, 2021-06-30
Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt announced that the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana will be closed on Friday, July 2, 2021, in delayed observation of the Juneteenth National Independence Day. Signed into law as a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, the Court delayed its observance due to the short period of time between President Biden's signing of the bill and the actual holiday on June 19. Please see the Press Release for full details.
Wed, 2021-06-23
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 attached amendments to the Local Rules of this Court are adopted, effective July 1, 2021.
Tue, 2021-05-25
Pursuant to a meeting of and unanimous votes by the Facility Security Committees for the federal courthouses in the Southern District of Indiana, Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt today issued a General Order, effective June 7, 2021, stating that fully vaccinated individuals will be allowed to access public areas of the four courthouses of the Southern District of Indiana without wearing a face covering or observing social distancing. Members of the public who are not fully vaccinated must wear a face covering and practice social distancing throughout the courthouses. An exception may be made for a person providing documentation that he or she is unable, for medical reasons, to wear a face covering. All persons entering the courthouses will be asked a series of health screening questions. Please see the Order or Press Release for full details.
Thu, 2021-05-20
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 June 21, 2021, the revision of certain Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Please click on the Public Notice below for more details.
Wed, 2021-05-12
Teachers, have you ever wondered what happens in federal court? Are you looking for a fun summer workshop to fulfill your professional development hours? The annual Federal Court Teacher Institute organized by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is for you! Registration is now open for this immersive workshop, which will take place on June 16-17, 2021 from 9:00am to 1:00pm, via Zoom. For full details, see the Press Release.
Mon, 2021-04-05
The Honorable Tanya Walton Pratt, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, announced that Mario Garcia was sworn in today as United States Magistrate Judge. Judge Garcia fills a new magistrate judgeship created by the Judicial Conference of the United States. He is the first judge of Hispanic heritage to serve the Southern District of Indiana. Please see the Press Release for full details.
Mon, 2021-03-22
On Saturday, March 20, 2021, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana came under the leadership of a new chief judge, the Honorable Tanya Walton Pratt. She succeeds Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson. Chief Judge Pratt is the first person of color to serve as the Southern District of Indiana's chief judge, and the tenth chief judge in the court's history. Chief Judge Pratt was appointed as a district judge on June 15, 2010, becoming the first African-American federal judge in Indiana history. See the Press Release for full details.
Fri, 2021-02-12
Chief Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson today announced that the court anticipates the resumption of in-person jury trials in all divisions of the Southern District of Indiana on Monday, April 5, 2021. Additionally, the Clerk's Offices in all divisions will reopen to the public on Tuesday, February 16, 2021. Please see the Press Release for full details.