H.E.A. 1110, P.L. 173-2015
Effective: §§1-16 effective July 1, 2015; §17 effective June 29, 2015; §18 effective May 5, 2015
Allows the judges of the Clark circuit court to jointly appoint a third full-time magistrate. Allows the judge of the Greene circuit court and the judge of the Greene superior court to jointly appoint one full-time magistrate. Allows the judges of the Madison circuit court to jointly appoint a second full-time magistrate. Allows the judges of the Marion superior court to appoint four additional full-time magistrates after December 31, 2015. Allows the judge of the Porter circuit court to appoint one full-time magistrate. Allows the judge of the Vanderburgh circuit court to appoint a second full-time magistrate.
Allows a magistrate to: (1) approve and accept criminal plea agreements; (2) approve agreed settlements concerning civil matters; and (3) approve decrees of dissolution, settlement agreements, and any other agreements of the parties in domestic relations actions or paternity actions.
Allows the: (1) judge of the St. Joseph circuit court to appoint one additional full-time magistrate, for a total of three full-time magistrates; and (2) judges of the St. Joseph superior court to jointly appoint two additional full-time magistrates for a total of four full-time magistrates, not more than two of whom may be from the same political party. Provides that meetings of the St. Joseph judicial nominating commission must be held at a place in: (1) the St. Joseph County courthouse; or (2) another building owned or operated by St. Joseph County; in South Bend as the clerk of the St. Joseph superior court may arrange.
Removes the authority of the Sullivan circuit and superior court judges to jointly appoint a full-time magistrate as of July 1, 2016. Provides that the term of a full-time magistrate appointed by the Sullivan circuit and superior court judges ends not later than July 1, 2016.
Requires the judge of a city or town court to be an attorney in good standing admitted to practice law in Indiana. Allows a currently serving city or town court judge who is not an attorney to continue to serve as a judge until he or she leaves office.
Urges the legislative council to assign to a study committee the topic of the appropriate number of judges in Pulaski County.
The full law is available at: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2015/bills/house/1110