No. 25-5557October Term 2025Decided Jan 20, 2026
Indiana, ex rel. Danny W. Howell, Petitioner v. Circuit Court of Indiana, Wells County, et al.
This case involves a petition for a writ of certiorari and a motion to proceed in forma pauperis, likely concerning filing restrictions or bars imposed on an incarcerated litigant.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jan 20, 2026
- What it's about
This case involves a petition for a writ of certiorari and a motion to proceed in forma pauperis, likely concerning filing restrictions or bars imposed on an incarcerated litigant.
Question presented
1. Whether the Indiana Tort Claims Act's (ITCA) notice requirements are preempted by the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution when applied to federal civil rights claims brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in state court. 2. Whether the doctrine of absolute judicial immunity extends to acts performed by judges or court officials that are administrative, ministerial, or taken in the complete absence of all jurisdiction. 3. Whether the state courts violated the Petitioner’s Fourteenth Amendment rights to Due Process and Equal Protection by dismissing constitutional claims on procedural grounds without addressing the underlying merits of the alleged civil rights violations.
- Case path
Supreme Court of Indiana / Decision released Jan 20, 2026
- Area
Civil Rights
Timing
Decided January 20, 2026
The Court released its decision on January 20, 2026 without hearing oral argument.
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Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Apr 6, 2026
- Method
- Methodology