Clinton County Court Staff Visit State House
May 6, 2013 by Editor
In 2012 more than 1.5 million cases were filed in Indiana courts. All of those cases, one way or another, passed through the hands of court staff in one of Indiana’s 92 county court systems. Very few find their way to the appellate courts in Indianapolis, but just what does happen to them [...]
Facsimile Transmittal Fee Facts
May 6, 2013 by Editor
Can a court or clerk assess a fee for sending a document via facsimile?
Several times each year the Division is asked whether a clerk or court can assess a fee for sending a document via facsimile. There is a statute that authorizes a public agency, which includes the judicial branch according to I.C. 4-13-1-1, [...]
New Faces in Marion Superior Court
March 5, 2013 by Editor
New Court Administrator Begins in Marion Superior Court
Andrea Brandes Newsom was recently named Court Administrator for Superior Courts of Marion County. Newsom graduated from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 1999 and earned a bachelor’s degree in history, magna cum laude with honors, from William Jewell College in 1995. She previously [...]
Marion County Small Claims Court Task Force Issues Report
September 17, 2012 by Editor
The recurring problems in the Marion County Small Claims court system came to light on a national stage last July, when the Wall Street Journal published a lengthy report detailing pervasive problems in the Marion County Small Claims Courts. Titled “In Debt Collection, Location Matters,” this article alleged that high-volume filers receive preferential treatment and [...]
To fee or not to fee… That is the ethical question
September 17, 2012 by Editor
During economic hard times, the pressure can be immense for government officials, including judges, to find additional revenue sources to run government agencies. Judges often find themselves in the crossfire between addressing a city/county council’s concerns about budget shortfalls and maintaining the regular business of the court. Three alluring “solutions” sometimes proposed to [...]
Using a Signature Stamp: When and How
July 3, 2012 by Editor
Judges have to sign thousands of documents, sometimes hundreds of times each day. It is only reasonable that judges must find ways to ease this burden by seeking help from staff. Which leads to the question: may a judge authorize another individual to sign documents on behalf of the judge via use [...]
2012 Court Reform Grant Applications Now Available
May 2, 2012 by Editor
The Indiana Supreme Court Division of State Court Administration announced that the application for 2012 Court Reform Grants is now available online. The application is available at courts.in.gov/admin/2420.htm.
The Division encourages judges to apply for a grant. The money awarded can help improve your local court system. Up to $30,000 per grant request is available for [...]
On the Way to Something Better
February 6, 2012 by Editor
On Jan. 11, 2012, Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard delivered his 25th and final State of the Judiciary address to a Joint Session of the Indiana General Assembly. An excerpted version follows. The State of the Judiciary was broadcast to a statewide audience over the Internet and on radio and television through Indiana Public [...]
Passing Lady Justice’s Scales (Not to mention her books and papers)
February 6, 2012 by Editor
In the story Brigadoon, a mythical Scottish village appears for one day every hundred years. Indiana’s city and town courts may come into existence, or disappear, once every four years.
Ind. Code § 33-35-1-1(a) permits a second or third class city or a town to establish or abolish a city or town court by ordinance every [...]
Authorization Required: Restricting Access to Criminal History Information
October 31, 2011 by Editor
The Indiana General Assembly passed Public Law 194-2011 (HEA 1211) earlier this year allowing individuals to petition courts to restrict access to certain criminal records. This law creates two new proceedings by amending Indiana Code Title 35, Criminal Law and Procedure, Article 38, Proceedings Following Dismissal, Verdict or Finding. It allows a person [...]
