Indiana's federal courts have been without mask mandates for months. But citing increasing spread and new guidance from the CDC, courts in the northern and southern district have reissued face covering requirements.

Fully vaccinated individuals will be allowed to enter public areas of the four courthouses of the federal Southern District of Indiana without wearing a face covering or observing social distancing.

Federal jury trials suspended last fall amid a surge in coronavirus cases are expected to resume in April in all divisions of the Southern District of Indiana, a judge announced Friday.

Mario Garcia will fill a new magistrate judgeship created for the district by the Judicial Conference of the United States.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Josh Minkler was appointed by President Donald Trump to the U.S. Attorney post in 2017 and was sworn in on Oct. 10, 2017, after being unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

An order sent Friday by Chief Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson suspends all in-person jury trials in all divisions of the U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana until at least Jan. 25.

As part of the review, election officials are being asked to complete surveys on polling place accessibility in their counties. Investigators may then conduct on-site inspections.

Federal court officials in Indianapolis are warning that scammers posing as court employees are calling people with cases pending before the court and asking them for their Social Security number.

President Donald Trump nominated James R. Sweeney II for the judgeship last November and the Senate unanimously confirmed him on Aug. 28.

President Trump has nominated attorneys Holly Brady of Fort Wayne and J.P. Hanlon of Indianapolis to serve as federal judges.