United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

7th Circuit Indianapolis, Indiana

About This Court

Established in 1928, the Southern District of Indiana is one of two federal judicial districts in Indiana, covering the southern portion of the state. The district encompasses Indianapolis, the state capital and largest city, along with a broad swath of central and southern Indiana spanning urban, suburban, and rural communities. It operates within the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

The district's geographic footprint includes 68 counties, making it one of the larger districts by county count in the Seventh Circuit. Major population centers within the district include Indianapolis, Evansville, and Terre Haute, each served by divisional offices.

The court handles the full range of federal civil and criminal matters, including significant complex commercial litigation, intellectual property cases, and cases arising from Indiana's pharmaceutical and life sciences industries concentrated in the Indianapolis metropolitan area.

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, Southern District of Indiana.

Divisions

Indianapolis Division (Indianapolis), Terre Haute Division (Terre Haute), Evansville Division (Evansville), New Albany Division (New Albany)

Caseload

The Southern District of Indiana handles a substantial volume of civil litigation, including product liability, pharmaceutical, and commercial disputes reflecting Indianapolis's role as a business and life sciences hub. The court also manages a steady federal criminal docket covering drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and white-collar matters.

Bar Admission

Attorneys must be admitted to the bar of the Southern District of Indiana to practice before the court, which generally requires active membership in good standing with the Indiana Supreme Court or another state bar and compliance with the court's local rules. Pro hac vice admission is available for attorneys not otherwise admitted.

Clerk's Office

46 East Ohio Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204

(317) 229-3700

Active Judges 9

Name	Appointed By	Confirmed	Law School
Sarah Barker	Ronald Reagan	1984	American University, Washington College of Law
Matthew Brookman	Joseph R. Biden	2023	Washington University School of Law
James Hanlon	Donald J. Trump	2018	Valparaiso University Law School
William Lawrence	George W. Bush	2008	Indiana University School of Law -- Indianapolis (now McKinney School of Law)
Jane Magnus-Stinson	Barack Obama	2010	Indiana University School of Law -- Indianapolis (now McKinney School of Law)
Justin Olson	Donald J. Trump	2026	Indiana University Maurer School of Law
Tanya Pratt	Barack Obama	2010	Howard University School of Law
James Sweeney	Donald J. Trump	2018	Notre Dame Law School
Richard Young	William J. Clinton	1998	George Mason University School of Law (now Antonin Scalia Law School)

Local Rules

81 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.

Civil Rules 55

Rule	Title
Local Rule 10-1	Names of Parties – Pseudonym Litigant
Local Rule 15-1	Motions to Amend Pleadings
Local Rule 16-1	Pretrial Procedures
Local Rule 16-2	Responsibilities for Cases Remanded or Transferred
Local Rule 16-3	Continuances in Civil Cases
Local Rule 23-1	Designation of "Class Action" in the Caption
Local Rule 26-1	Form of Certain Discovery Requests
Local Rule 26-2	Filing of Discovery Materials
Local Rule 30-1	Conduct of Depositions
Local Rule 36-1	Requests for Admissions
Local Rule 37-1	Discovery Disputes
Local Rule 38-1	Jury Demand
Local Rule 39-1	Authorization of Bankruptcy Judges to Conduct Jury Trials
Local Rule 40-1	Assignment of Cases
Local Rule 40-3	Trial Start Dates
Local Rule 40-4	Division of Business Among District Judges
Local Rule 42-1	Motions to Consolidate
Local Rule 45-1	Service of Subpoena on Non-Parties – Notice Requirement
Local Rule 47-1	Voir Dire of Jurors
Local Rule 47-2	Communication with Jurors
Local Rule 47-3	Juror Costs
Local Rule 47-4	Jury; Unanimous Verdict
Local Rule 5-1	Format of Documents Presented for Filing
Local Rule 5-10	Non-Electronic Filings
Local Rule 5-11	Filing Under Seal – Civil Cases
Local Rule 5.1-1	Constitutional Challenge to a Statute – Notice
Local Rule 5-12	Social Security Appeals
Local Rule 5.1-2	Actions Seeking Nationwide or Statewide Relief
Local Rule 5-2	Filing of Documents
Local Rule 5-3	Eligibility, Registration, Login Credentials for Electronic Filing; Exemption from Electronic Filing
Local Rule 5-4	Timing and Consequences of Electronic Filing
Local Rule 54-1	Taxation of Costs and Attorney's Fees
Local Rule 5-5	Orders and Judgments in Cases Filed Electronically
Local Rule 5-6	Attachments and Exhibits in Cases Filed Electronically
Local Rule 56-1	Summary Judgment Procedure
Local Rule 5-7	Signatures in Cases Filed Electronically
Local Rule 5-8	Public Access to Cases Filed Electronically
Local Rule 5-9	Retention of Documents in Cases Filed Electronically
Local Rule 6-1	Extensions of Time
Local Rule 65-2	Motions for Preliminary Injunctions and Temporary Restraining Orders
Local Rule 66-1	Receiverships
Local Rule 69-1	Execution
Local Rule 69-2	Interrogatories to Garnishees
Local Rule 69-3	Final Orders in Wage Garnishment
Local Rule 69-4	Body Attachments; Hearings
Local Rule 7-1	Motion Practice
Local Rule 72-1	Authority of United States Magistrate Judges
Local Rule 72-2	Forfeiture of Collateral in Lieu of Appearance
Local Rule 7-5	Oral Arguments and Hearings
Local Rule 79-1	Custody of Files and Exhibits
Local Rule 8-1	Pro Se Complaints
Local Rule 81-1	Notice of Removal and Response in Diversity Cases
Local Rule 81-2	State Court Record and Pending Motions in Removed Actions
Local Rule 83-8	Referral of Cases to Bankruptcy Court
Local Rule 9-2	Request for Three-Judge Court

Criminal Rules 14

Rule	Title
Local Criminal Rule 12-1	Continuance in Criminal Cases
Local Criminal Rule 12-2	Assignment of Related Cases
Local Criminal Rule 32-1	Records Relating to Presentence Reports and Probation Supervision
Local Criminal Rule 32-2	Sentencing Procedure
Local Criminal Rule 38-1	Petitions for Habeas Corpus Motions Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Sections 2241, 2254 and 2255 by Persons in Custody
Local Criminal Rule 38-2	Cases Challenging the Conviction and/or Sentence Where a Sentence of Death Has Been Imposed
Local Criminal Rule 49-1	Filing of Documents
Local Criminal Rule 49.1-2	Filing Under Seal
Local Criminal Rule 53-1	Provisions for Special Orders in Appropriate Cases
Local Criminal Rule 53-2	Release of Information by Court Supporting Personnel
Local Criminal Rule 53-3	Release of Information by Attorneys in Criminal Cases
Local Criminal Rule 58-1	Authority of United States Magistrate Judges in Criminal Matters
Local Criminal Rule 6-1	The Grand Jury
Local Criminal Rule 7-1	Standard Orders in Criminal Cases

General Rules 6

Rule	Title
Local Rule 1-1	Scope of the Rules
Local Rule 1-2	Access to Local Rules and Amendments
Local Rule 1-3	Sanctions for Errors as to Form
Local Rule 80-1	Official Transcripts of Court Proceedings
Local Rule 80-2	Redaction of Official Transcripts of Court Proceedings
Local Rule 83-3	Courtroom and Courthouse Decorum

Attorney Rules 4

Rule	Title
Local Rule 83-5	Bar Admission
Local Rule 83-6	Pro Hac Vice Admission
Local Rule 83-7	Appearance, Withdrawal of Appearance, and Substitution of Counsel
Local Rule 87	Representation of Indigent Litigants

Patent Rules 1

Rule	Title
Local Rule 5-13	Patent/Trademark/Copyright Reports

Appellate Rules 1

Rule	Title
Local Rule 76-1	Designating Additional Items For Record on Appeal – Rule deleted effective July 1, 2018

View all local rules →

Other Courts in the 7th Circuit

Central District of Illinois Springfield, Illinois Eastern District of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Wisconsin Northern District of Illinois Chicago, Illinois Northern District of Indiana South Bend, Indiana Southern District of Illinois East St. Louis, Illinois Western District of Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin