YouTuber Appealing Denial of His Injunction to Block Ind. ‘Buffer Law’

Plaintiff Donald Nicodemus is appealing the Jan. 12 decision of U.S. District Judge Damon Leichty for Northern Indiana in South Bend denying Nicodemus’ motion for a permanent injunction that would have blocked Indiana from enforcing HB-1186, the state’s “buffer law” (see 2401160011), said his notice of appeal Monday (docket 3:23-cv-00744). HB-1186, which took effect July 1, makes it a misdemeanor to approach within 25 feet of police officers on active duty. Nicodemus' case is one of at least two challenges to the law on First Amendment grounds (see [Ref:2312180005). Nicodemus periodically livestreams police encounters on his YouTube channel. He asserts that on July 20, South Bend police moved him back from a shooting investigation in town, referencing HB-1186 while he continued to film.