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Thursday, October 29, 2009

Ind. Courts - More on: "Trial about St. Joseph County judge's mandate order ends" [Updated]

Updating this ILB entry from Sept. 25th, Erin Blasko reports in the South Bend Tribune in a story headlined: "Special judge rules in favor of Nemeth: St. Joseph County ordered to release funds for raises, physical improvements at Juvenile Justice Center":

SOUTH BEND – A judge has ruled in favor of Probate Judge Peter Nemeth in a dispute between him and St. Joseph County officials over funding for the Juvenile Justice Center.

In his order and judgment, William Satterlee, a Valparaiso attorney appointed special judge in the case, ruled funding requested by Nemeth in 2008 to pay raises and make physical improvements at the Juvenile Justice Center was not only necessary for the operation of the court and court-related functions, but did not represent a financial burden to the county.

Nemeth issued a judicial mandate in February of 2009 directing the St. Joseph County Council and Board of Commissioners to appropriate the funds, totaling about $355,000.

The appropriation was approved by both the council and commission in late 2008, but commissioners never signed the requisition form.

Satterlee's ruling requires the funds now be released.

The county can appeal the decision.

[Updated at 11:19 AM] Here is an updated story from the Tribune.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on October 29, 2009 09:45 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts