Indiana Superior Courts

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The U.S. state of Indiana has three names for its county trial level courts: circuit courts, superior courts, and local city or town courts. [1]

Details

"Trial courts have different names primarily due to accidents of legislative history and local custom, not true differences in the nature or purpose of the courts. The cases these courts hear can vary tremendously from county to county." [2] For example, in Howard County, Indiana, with a population of less than 100,000, [3] the Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases and exclusive jurisdiction over juvenile cases, [4] while the Superior Court 1 primarily hears criminal drug and domestic violence cases. [5] By contrast, in Marion County, Indiana's largest county, [6] the Superior Court "has jurisdiction over all criminal cases, civil issues and family case types filed in the county." [7]

In 2016, the Indiana Supreme Court began a Commercial Court [8] Pilot Project in six county Superior Courts, appointing "Marion Superior Court Judge Heather Welch [9] ; Elkhart Superior Court [10] Judge Stephen Bowers; Lake Superior Court [11] Judge John Sedia; Floyd Superior Court Judge Maria Granger [12] ; Vanderburgh Superior Court [13] Judge Richard D’Amour; and Allen Superior Court [14] Judge Craig Bobay." [15] In 2020, the Supreme Court expanded the now permanent [16] Commercial Court into four more counties, three with Superior Courts (Hamilton, [17] Vigo, [18] and St. Joseph [19] ) and one with a Circuit Court (Madison [20] ). [21]

Judges are typically elected to the Superior Court, except in limited circumstances. [22]

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References

  1. ↑ "Court Reference, Finding Court Records in Indiana, Indiana Courts Overview".
  2. ↑ Branch, Indiana Judicial (2020-11-09). "Learn about Indiana's Court System". Indiana Judicial Branch. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  3. ↑ "United States Census Bureau, QuickFacts, Howard County, Indiana". July 1, 2023.
  4. ↑ County, Howard (2023-07-19). "Circuit Court". Howard County. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  5. ↑ County, Howard (2023-07-19). "Superior Court I". Howard County. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  6. ↑ "InDepth Profile: STATS Indiana". www.stats.indiana.edu. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  7. ↑ "indy.gov". www.indy.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  8. ↑ Services, Office of Court (2024-03-14). "Commercial Courts Committee". Office of Court Services. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  9. ↑ "Judge Heather Welch retiring from Marion County bench, continuing career in the law - THE INDIANA CITIZEN". 2023-10-25. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  10. ↑ "Courts - Elkhart County". elkhartcounty.com. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  11. ↑ "Superior Court". lakecounty.in.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  12. ↑ County, Floyd (2023-06-27). "Superior Court 3". Floyd County. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  13. ↑ "Superior Court / Vanderburgh County". www.evansvillegov.org. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  14. ↑ "Allen Superior Court – Official Website for Allen Superior Court in Fort Wayne, Indiana" . Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  15. ↑ Indiana Commercial Courts Working Group (2023). Indiana Commercial Courts Handbook (2nd ed.) (published January 31, 2023). p. 6.
  16. ↑ In the Indiana Supreme Court, In Re Indiana Commercial Courts, Supreme Court Case No. 19S-MS-295, Order (May 12, 2019)
  17. ↑ "Courts, Hamilton County, Indiana". www.hamiltoncounty.in.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  18. ↑ "Vigo Superior Court Division I". Vigo County, Indiana. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  19. ↑ "Superior Court | St. Joseph County, IN". www.sjcindiana.com. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  20. ↑ "Court Reference, Madison County, Indiana Court Directory".
  21. ↑ Indiana Commercial Courts Working Group (2023). Indiana Commercial Courts Handbook (2nd ed.) (published January 31, 2023). p. 9.
  22. ↑ Branch, Indiana Judicial (2021-08-20). "Judicial Selection". Indiana Judicial Branch. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
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