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The Indiana Senate approved legislation Tuesday that would abolish 11 trial courts in mostly rural counties and six magistrate positions in Marion County.
House Bill 1144 now returns to its original chambers for consideration. The representatives can either accept the hefty changes to the bill or send it to conference committee for negotiations.
The bill’s author, Rep. Chris Jeter, R-Fishers, did not immediately respond to request for comment on the changes to the bill.
However, he said earlier in the session that the plan was to close some courts and reallocate resources so new courts could be opened in fast-growing areas of the state with a greater need.
The bill initially named only the new courts that would open. But it wasn’t until the bill reached the Senate that the courts targeted for closure were named.
The decision came from looking at the state’s weighted caseload management system, which listed the counties most in need of new courts.
Jeter’s home county of Hamilton is listed as the top county in need, and the legislation would add two judicial officers there. Also added would be five full-time magistrates in Elkhart County, one magistrate in Vigo County and Lawrence County juvenile court.
In the Senate, the following courts were chosen to close from 2026 to 2028: Carroll Superior Court, Blackford Superior Court, Gibson Superior Court, Greene Superior Court, Jennings Superior Court, Newton Superior Court, Owen Circuit Court 2, Pulaski Superior Court, Rush Superior Court, and Scott Superior Court.
A Monroe Circuit Court also would close, but the Legislature would give the county some options in choosing which one.
On second reading in the Senate, the bill also was amended to reduce the number of magistrates in Marion County Juvenile Courts from 17 to 11.
Rush Superior Court Judge Leigh Morning said she did not know about the closing of her court until Thursday, when Blackford Circuit Court Judge Brian Bade called her.
“I’m disappointed that our court is on the list to be closed,” Morning said.
Morning’s court is a drug problem-solving court. She is one of two judges in Rush County, which, according to the weighted caseload management system, was ranked 79th for need. The county needs 1.3 judicial officers and currently has 2.
Blackford County currently has only two judges, and if this bill is signed by Gov. Mike Braun, it will only have one.
“We are hoping that the amendments do not pass…,” Morning said. “At this point, we have not taken any steps to prepare for the closing of our court.”
She said she has reached out to her local legislators to express her feelings on the matter.
Monroe Circuit Court 9 Judge Darcie Fawcett said she didn’t have time for a phone call due to being on the bench but hopes no court is abolished.
“Regarding the potential legislation, I can say that I, along with all the judges in Monroe County, am hopeful that no court across the State of Indiana will be abolished and the Judicial Branch will continue to effectively serve the citizens of the state,” Fawcett wrote in an email.
According to the weighted caseload management system, Monroe County ranked 66th in need. The county needs 7.87 judicial officers and has 10.
Sen. Jean Leising, R-Oldenburg, spoke in opposition of the bill on third reading yesterday.
“If a county now has two judges and you do away with one of them, it’s a tremendous impact,” Leising said.
While the bill closes 11 courts, it is adding two judicial officers in Hamilton County, five full-time magistrates in Elkhart County, one magistrate in Vigo County and Lawrence County juvenile Court.
The Senate passed the bill 33-16 after Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, told lawmakers it be difficult to explain to constituents why they wouldn’t want to make the state’s court system more efficient.
“Just remember that you go back to your communities, you’re going to tell the taxpayers, it’s okay to pay $183,000 plus and change to a judge who’s not being adequately utilized,” Brown said, “and that that’s our tax dollars that you’re willing to spend there, and at the same time, that means we don’t have tax dollars somewhere to spend somewhere else.”
The Indiana Capital Chronicle reported that the bill’s reallocation of judges will save the state about $748,885 in Fiscal Year 2027 and up to $2.75 million in Fiscal Year 2032.
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