Southern District of Indiana Announces Intracircuit Magistrate Judge Assignment

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA

Southern District of Indiana Announces Intracircuit Magistrate Judge Assignment

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (October 15, 2020): Chief Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson  announced today that, beginning on October 19, 2020, Recalled Magistrate Judge Paul R. Cherry from the Northern District of Indiana will provide targeted assistance in the Indianapolis division of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Specifically, Magistrate Judge Cherry will serve as the criminal duty magistrate judge one week per month, through at least March of 2021.

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(f), in an emergency and upon the concurrence of the Chief Judges of the districts involved, a United States Magistrate Judge may be temporarily assigned to perform specific duties in a judicial district other than the judicial district for which he or she has been appointed. Chief Judge Magnus-Stinson has issued an order specifying the emergency that necessitates the assignment of Magistrate Judge Cherry, as required by the statute. Per the order:

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana's weighted filings have nearly doubled over the past five years. For the one-year period ending June 30, 2020, the court averaged 952 weighted filings and 1,196 total filings per judgeship, ranking the Southern District 2^nd in the nation in the latter category. The court currently has over 11,000 pending cases. The continued strain of operating well in excess of full capacity is insurmountable, and even under ordinary circumstances would amount to an emergency. These are not ordinary times, however – a pandemic is also ongoing in the country and has been particularly detrimental to this court considering its already overburdened caseload.

Magistrate Judge Cherry's assignment is made with the concurrence of the Honorable Jon DeGuilio, Chief Judge of the Northern District of Indiana. Chief Judge Magnus-Stinson said, "We are grateful to Magistrate Judge Cherry for his willingness to help his judicial colleagues in the Southern District, and to Chief Judge DeGuilio for generously loaning us a very capable, highly regarded judge. We look forward to hosting Judge Cherry in Indianapolis over the coming months."

Magistrate Judge Cherry was appointed to the Northern District of Indiana on October 1, 2003. He assumed recalled status in 2019. Prior to becoming a magistrate judge, Judge Cherry served as DeKalb County Circuit Court Judge from 1989-2003. He was also a DeKalb County prosecutor, has worked in private practice, and served as adjunct faculty at Huntington University, Valparaiso University Law School, and Calumet College of St. Joseph.

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