Oral arguments begin Friday in case of Indiana's '25-foot' encroachment law

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Starting on Sept. 27, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit will hear oral arguments in the case of Donald Nicodemus v. City of South Bend.

The case revolves around citizen-journalist Nicodemus recording and observing police activity from what was determined to be too close of distance.

His case challenges Indiana’s 25-foot encroachment law -- which states that bystanders must be at least 25 feet from police or a crime scene -- on the basis that it violates Hoosiers’ first amendment right to observe and record the police.

The state of the Indiana passed the law, and South Bend Police enforced it against Nicodemus to prevent him from allegedly getting close enough to observe and record their action.

Seventh Circuit oral arguments will begin at 10:30 ET.

Court officials say Nicodemus v. City of South Bend is the fifth case on the schedule and will begin at approximately 12:15 ET.

Those who can't attend can listen to arguments online or livestream the video feed.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is located in Chicago.