United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
About This Court
The Northern District of Indiana is one of two federal judicial districts in Indiana and falls within the jurisdiction of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. The district covers the northern portion of the state, encompassing major population centers including South Bend, Fort Wayne, Hammond, and Lafayette. It borders Illinois to the west, Michigan to the north, and the Southern District of Indiana to the south.
The district handles the full range of federal civil and criminal matters, including cases arising under federal statute, constitutional questions, and diversity jurisdiction disputes. The northern Indiana region has a significant industrial and manufacturing heritage, which influences the character of commercial litigation and labor-related cases that appear on the docket.
Court operations are spread across multiple divisions to serve the geographic breadth of the district. The clerk's office is headquartered in South Bend, with additional courthouses providing access to federal court for litigants across the region.
Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Indiana. Appeals go to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Divisions
Fort Wayne Division (Fort Wayne), Hammond Division (Hammond), Lafayette Division (Lafayette), South Bend Division (South Bend)
Caseload
The Northern District of Indiana sees a substantial volume of civil rights, employment, and products liability cases, reflecting the region's industrial background and diverse urban and rural population. Criminal dockets include matters related to firearms offenses, drug trafficking, and fraud.
Bar Admission
Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the Northern District of Indiana, which generally requires membership in good standing with the Indiana bar or admission pro hac vice for out-of-state attorneys appearing in specific cases. Applicants must comply with the court's local rules governing admission and professional conduct.
Clerk's Office
Robert A. Grant Federal Building, 204 South Main Street, South Bend, IN 46601
(574) 246-8000
Active Judges 10
| Name | Appointed By | Confirmed | Law School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holly Brady | Donald J. Trump | 2019 | Valparaiso University Law School |
| Cristal Brisco | Joseph R. Biden | 2024 | Notre Dame Law School |
| Jon DeGuilio | Barack Obama | 2010 | Valparaiso University Law School |
| Damon Leichty | Donald J. Trump | 2019 | Indiana University School of Law -- Bloomington (now Maurer School of Law) |
| Gretchen Lund | Joseph R. Biden | 2024 | Valparaiso University Law School |
| Robert Miller | Ronald Reagan | 1985 | Indiana University School of Law -- Indianapolis (now McKinney School of Law) |
| James Moody | Ronald Reagan | 1982 | Indiana University School of Law -- Bloomington (now Maurer School of Law) |
| Philip Simon | George W. Bush | 2003 | Indiana University School of Law -- Bloomington (now Maurer School of Law) |
| Theresa Springmann | George W. Bush | 2003 | Notre Dame Law School |
| Joseph Van Bokkelen | George W. Bush | 2007 | Indiana University School of Law -- Bloomington (now Maurer School of Law) |
Local Rules
The Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, which supplement the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.