The Senate Appropriations Committee heard HB 1064, courts and magistrates, sponsored by Sen. Crider and Sen. Zay. This bill:
- Adds a superior court in Hamilton County and provides that the first judge of Hamilton Superior Court No. 7 shall be elected at the November 2022 general election, take office January 1, 2023, and serve a term of six years.
- 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 bill passed 13-0.
Read the bill here: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2021/bills/house/1064