The House Judiciary Committee heard SB 2 concerning service of process sponsored by Rep. Mayfield and Rep. Cox. Author Sen. Steele explained that this bill clarifies the cost of services to be paid from court fees and addresses service/process issues. This bill specifies that "registered or certified mail" includes any means of delivery that provides a return receipt. The bill also … [Read more...] about Service of process
Judicial Administration
Marion County small claims
The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 523, sponsored by Rep. Frizzell and Rep. Behning, on Marion County small claims courts. This bill was amended to: make the small claims courts in Marion County courts of record after July 1, 2018; make small claims courts full time courts before 2018 unless the township board objects, and full-time courts after 2018 by … [Read more...] about Marion County small claims
Magistrates
The Senate Appropriations Committee heard HB 1110, sponsored by Sens. Steele, Grooms, and Randolph, adding various magistrates. This bill allows: the judges of the Clark circuit court to jointly appoint a third full-time magistrate; the judge of the Greene circuit court and the judge of the Greene superior court to jointly appoint one full-time magistrate; the judges of the … [Read more...] about Magistrates
Magistrates and criminal trials
The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 137, sponsored by Rep. Fine and Rep. Slager, on magistrates and criminal trials, prohibiting a magistrate’s presiding at sentencing when (1) the magistrate had not also presided at trial and (2) the defendant objected to the magistrate presiding at sentencing. Author Sen. Randolph presented the bill to the Committee. A technical … [Read more...] about Magistrates and criminal trials
Service of process fees collected by a sheriff
The House Judiciary Committee heard SB 217, sponsored by Reps. Gutwein, McNamara, and Lawson, concerning service of process fees collected by a sheriff. Author Sen. Boots explained that this bill increases the service of process fee from $13 to $25 from a party requesting service of a writ, an order, a process, a notice, a tax warrant, or any other paper completed by the sheriff. … [Read more...] about Service of process fees collected by a sheriff