Legislative Update

Courts & magistrates

Filed Under: Judicial Administration

The House Ways and Means Committee heard HB 1064 on courts and magistrates authored by Representatives Cherry and Eberhart. This bill was amended to incorporate the other judicial officer bills – HB 1042, HB 1043, HB 1112, and HB 1304. The amended bill:

  •  Adds a superior court in Hamilton County.
  • Allows the judges of the Decatur circuit and superior courts to jointly appoint a magistrate to serve the Decatur County courts.
  • Allows the judges of the Huntington circuit and superior courts to jointly appoint a magistrate to serve the Huntington County courts.
  • Allows the judge of the Lake superior court division No. 4 to appoint a magistrate to serve the Lake superior court division No. 4.
  • Allows the Marion County superior courts to appoint 27 full-time magistrates after December 31, 2021, not more than 14 of whom may be from the same political party.
  • Removes the sixth circuit court in Delaware County.
  • Provides a full-time magistrate for Hancock County.  

The amended bill passed on a vote of 24 – 0.
Read the bill at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2021/bills/house/1064.