The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 81, sponsored by Rep. Steuerwald, on senior judges and judges pro tempore. Author Sen. R. Michael Young presented the bill that allows a senior judge or a judge pro tempore serving in a county that has a probate court, a circuit court, or more than one superior court judge to sit as the judge of the consenting judge’s court in any matter as if the senior judge or judge pro tempore were the elected judge or appointed judge of the court. It also provides that a judge pro tempore may serve as a judge of a court regardless of whether the appointed or elected judge of the court is present and available in the building that contains the court.
Hendricks Superior Court #1 Judge Robert Freese testified in support of the bill. The amendment adopted by consent removes text requiring more than one superior court and allows judges to swear in politicians anywhere in the state. The amended bill passed 10-0.
Read the bill at https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2016/bills/senate/81