Job Details for Temporary Staff Attorney
| Court Name/Organization | Indiana Southern District Court |
| Overview of the Position | A temporary Staff Attorney to assist the Court for a 12-week period beginning on May 18, 2026. |
| Location | Indianapolis, IN |
| Opening and Closing Dates | 01/21/2026 - 02/23/2026 |
| Appointment Type | Temporary |
| Classification Level/Grade | JSP 12 - JSP 14 |
| Salary | $90,341 - $126,947 |
| Link to Court Careers Information | https://www.insd.uscourts.gov/employment-opportunities |
| Announcement Number | 26-1 |
| Link to Job Announcement | |
Position Description
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is accepting applications for a temporary Staff Attorney to assist the Court for a 12-week period beginning on May 18, 2026. Staff Attorneys work within the Staff Attorney Office, which assists the Court in managing its prisoner civil rights and habeas corpus docket. For this position, the Temporary Staff Attorney will be managing a prisoner civil rights caseload. The Temporary Staff Attorney is appointed by the Chief Judge, but performs duties and responsibilities for all District Judges, including legal research, substantial drafting of proposed entries; screening of prisoner civil rights complaints; reviewing motions to determine issues involved and bases for relief; assisting judicial officers in conducting hearings, conferences, and trials; providing case management of prisoner litigation; and providing information to other court personnel regarding prisoner cases. Given the limited duration of this position, the Court will give priority to candidates with working knowledge of prisoner and constitutional law or federal clerkship experience. Remote applicants with relevant experience are encouraged to apply.
Miscellaneous
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is accepting applications for a temporary Staff Attorney to assist the Court for a 12-week period beginning on May 18, 2026. Staff Attorneys work within the Staff Attorney Office, which assists the Court in managing its prisoner civil rights and habeas corpus docket. For this position, the Temporary Staff Attorney will be managing a prisoner civil rights caseload. The Temporary Staff Attorney is appointed by the Chief Judge, but performs duties and responsibilities for all District Judges, including legal research, substantial drafting of proposed entries; screening of prisoner civil rights complaints; reviewing motions to determine issues involved and bases for relief; assisting judicial officers in conducting hearings, conferences, and trials; providing case management of prisoner litigation; and providing information to other court personnel regarding prisoner cases. Given the limited duration of this position, the Court will give priority to candidates with working knowledge of prisoner and constitutional law or federal clerkship experience. Remote applicants with relevant experience are encouraged to apply.
Application Info
Qualified applicants should submit a cover letter, résumé, writing sample (no more than 10 pages), and a completed AO 78 Application for Judicial Branch Federal Employment (application form is on the court website www.insd.uscourts.gov) in a single PDF to: StaffAttorneyApp@insd.uscourts.gov and ensure that your name and the words “Staff Attorney” appear in the subject line of your email.
Applications must be emailed before 4 p.m. ET, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and the position may be filled before the Application Deadline.
The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.