United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
Court name	United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
Caption	The Birch Bayh Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Indianapolis
Established	0 1928
Chief	James R. Sweeney II
Us attorney	Zachary A. Myers
Us trustee	Nancy J. Gargula (Region 10)

United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is a federal trial court with jurisdiction over the southern half of the State of Indiana. It is part of the Seventh Circuit, and its primary courthouse is the Birch Bayh Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Indianapolis. The court hears cases arising under federal law, including those involving the United States Constitution, disputes between citizens of different states, and matters concerning federal agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

History

The district was established by Congress in 1928 when the single United States District Court for the District of Indiana was subdivided into Northern and Southern districts. Prior to this, the Judiciary Act of 1789 had created a single district covering the entire Indiana Territory. Significant early jurisprudence from the region includes cases related to the Underground Railroad and disputes following the American Civil War. The court's docket expanded dramatically during the New Deal era, adjudicating challenges to programs like the Agricultural Adjustment Act, and later played a role in cases stemming from the Civil Rights Movement.

Jurisdiction and organization

The court's jurisdiction encompasses 60 of Indiana's 92 counties, including major population centers such as Indianapolis, Bloomington, Evansville, and Terre Haute. It exercises original jurisdiction over all federal crimes, bankruptcy matters (through its bankruptcy court unit), civil suits where the United States is a party, and cases involving diversity jurisdiction. The court is organized into divisions, including the Indianapolis Division, Terre Haute Division, Evansville Division, and New Albany Division. Appeals from its decisions are heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and, ultimately, the Supreme Court of the United States.

Current judges

As of 2023, the court has five authorized Article III judgeships. The chief judge is James R. Sweeney II, who was appointed by President Donald Trump and commissioned in 2019. The other active judges are Jane Magnus-Stinson, appointed by President Barack Obama; Tanya Walton Pratt, also an Obama appointee and the first African American woman to serve as a federal judge in Indiana; and Doris L. Pryor, appointed by President Joe Biden. One judgeship remains vacant. All district judges are assisted by several magistrate judges and work alongside the United States Attorney for the district, Zachary A. Myers.

Former judges

Notable former judges of the court include S. Hugh Dillin, who served from 1961 to 1997 and presided over lengthy litigation concerning the desegregation of Indianapolis Public Schools; Sarah Evans Barker, who served as chief judge and was appointed by President Ronald Reagan; and William E. Steckler, who was the district's first chief judge after its 1928 creation. Other distinguished alumni include Cale J. Holder and Larry J. McKinney. The legacy of these jurists is documented in the official archives of the Federal Judicial Center and the National Archives and Records Administration.

Notable cases

The court has presided over several high-profile cases. These include *United States v. City of Indianapolis*, a major school desegregation case; litigation surrounding the execution of Timothy McVeigh accomplice Terry Nichols, which was held at the United States Penitentiary, Terre Haute; and multiple significant patent infringement trials involving pharmaceutical giants like Eli Lilly and Company, which is headquartered in the district. The court also handled the fraud trial of former Indianapolis City-County Council member Lincoln Plowman and cases related to the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Courthouses

The court's primary seat is the Birch Bayh Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Indianapolis, a historic structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The court also maintains permanent facilities in other division headquarters, including the Federal Building in Evansville and the United States Courthouse in Terre Haute. These courthouses also house supporting offices such as the United States Attorney, the United States Marshals Service, and the United States Probation and Pretrial Services System.

Category:United States district courts Category:Indiana law Category:Courthouses in Indiana Category:1928 establishments in Indiana