The Senate Judiciary Committee heard SB 291 on court security authored by Sen. Baldwin and Sen. Carrasco. The bill repeals current code provisions concerning the supreme court sheriff and allows the Supreme Court of Indiana and the Court of Appeals of Indiana to each appoint a court marshal who may then hire deputy court marshals. The bill requires these court marshals to ensure the safety and security of the courts and to carry out certain responsibilities and provides that a court marshal is entitled to qualified immunity for acts performed in the course of official duties and specifies that a court marshal has limited police powers and is required to notify the local law enforcement agency as soon as practicable when a security threat is detected.
Judge Cale Bradford, Court of Appeals of Indiana, testified in support of the bill. The bill passed 10-0.
Read the bill at: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/senate/291