The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 137, sponsored by Rep. Fine and Rep. Slager, on magistrates and criminal trials, prohibiting a magistrate’s presiding at sentencing when (1) the magistrate had not also presided at trial and (2) the defendant objected to the magistrate presiding at sentencing. Author Sen. Randolph presented the bill to the Committee. A technical amendment was made to make the language in the bill consistent with terminology used in the Indiana Supreme Court Criminal Rules. The bill passed as amended 9-0.
Read the bill at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2015/bills/senate/137.