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Friday, May 23, 2008

Ind. Courts - Interim Legislative Committees to study court issues

Ed Ronco of the South Bend Tribune reports today:

Whether St. Joseph County judges should be elected will get a closer look from state legislators this summer, along with a host of other issues.

The Indiana General Assembly formed its interim study committees Thursday afternoon -- groups of lawmakers who gather throughout the summer to brainstorm what issues might need to be dealt with in the law. * * *

The issue of electing Superior Court judges in St. Joseph County, where they are appointed by the governor, is not new. Currently, residents vote on whether to retain the eight judges at the ends of their terms, but do not vote on open seats.

It was brought up in February by state Rep. Ryan Dvorak, who tried to amend a judge's pension bill to allow for the elections.

The move by Dvorak, D-South Bend, would have set up non-partisan elections for the judges, but it failed in late February by a 49-45 vote.

Niki Kelly's report in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette mentions:
Potential creation of an additional Court of Appeals panel.
For background on the St. Joseph judges selection issue, start with this ILB entry from March 6, 2008.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on May 23, 2008 08:22 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts | Indiana Government