No. 25-5557October Term 2025Decided Jan 20, 2026Updated Sep 5, 2026
Indiana, ex rel. Danny W. Howell v. Circuit Court of Indiana, Wells County
Indiana, ex rel. Danny W. Howell, Petitioner v. Circuit Court of Indiana, Wells County, et al.
The Supreme Court dismissed Howell’s petition, leaving the Indiana court’s decision in place without resolving the legal questions he raised.
Case status
Decided · January 20, 2026
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jan 20, 2026
- What it's about
The petitioner sought Supreme Court review of an Indiana court decision involving notice requirements for federal civil-rights claims, judicial immunity, and constitutional procedural rights. The Court denied his request to proceed without paying filing fees and dismissed the certiorari petition, so the lower court’s decision remained in place and the Court did not decide the merits of those issues.
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
Decision
What the Court decided
The Supreme Court dismissed Howell’s petition, leaving the Indiana court’s decision in place without resolving the legal questions he raised.
Impact
The Indiana court’s result remains in place. For example, a person bringing a federal civil-rights claim in Indiana state court remains subject to the lower court’s approach.
Not official Court text.
Briefing
What it's about
The Supreme Court denied Danny Howell’s request to proceed without paying filing fees and dismissed his petition seeking review of an Indiana court decision. The Court did not decide the merits of his claims about civil-rights lawsuits, judicial immunity, or procedural rights.
Impact
The Indiana court’s result remains in place. For example, a person bringing a federal civil-rights claim in Indiana state court remains subject to the lower court’s approach.
What's next
The Supreme Court has finished its action on this docket. The lower-court decision remains in effect.
What did the Supreme Court do in Howell v. Circuit Court of Indiana?
The Court denied Howell’s fee-waiver request and dismissed his petition seeking review. It did not decide the merits of his constitutional claims.
Who is affected by the dismissal in Howell’s case?
Howell and people bringing similar federal civil-rights claims in Indiana state court may be affected. The Indiana court’s result remains controlling in this case.
What happens next in Howell v. Circuit Court of Indiana?
No further Supreme Court action is expected on this docket. The Indiana court’s decision remains in place.
Timing
Decided January 20, 2026
The Court released its decision on January 20, 2026 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity2
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
Sep 5, 2026 | Generated
Brief added: Petition
Jul 30, 2025 | Court records
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Sep 5, 2026
- Method
- Methodology