The areas rendered in black, Area 1A and Area 1B, had their lawsuits with constitutional claims dismissed by the city. The remaining five five areas, shown in different colors are subject of the consolidated lawsuits with a constitutional claim.

Lawrence county circuit court photo of special judge for Bloomington annexation lawsuit Nathan Nikirk

On Tuesday, judge Nathan Nikirk issued a ruling that denies the city of Bloomington’s constitutional challenge to a 2019 state law, which causes annexation waivers to expire after 15 years.

Nikirk’s ruling, on five consolidated lawsuits, affects Bloomington’s annexation in five different areas. There’s one lawsuit for each territory.

Even if the city of Bloomington does not appeal the ruling, that does not mean that the question of annexation in the affected five areas is settled.

There’s more to the five consolidated lawsuits than the constitutional claim.

Nikirk’s Tuesday ruling has no effect on the separate litigation for two other areas (Area 1A and Area 1B) about which a bench trial was held in early May.

A ruling on the merits of annexation in those areas could be expected towards August. Continue reading “Annexation lawsuit: Judge rules against Bloomington on constitutional claim, but it’s not over” →