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Monday, February 21, 2011
Ind. Courts - Knightstown council wants new judge to be an attorney
John Hodge reported Feb. 19th for the New Castle Courier Times:
KNIGHTSTOWN - The new judge for the Knightstown Town Court must be an attorney, according to an ordinance passed Thursday by the Knightstown Town Council. However, it might not be observed by the caucus that selects the judge.Judge Hayden Butler resigned as judge earlier this month with 11 months left on his term. Joe Lansinger is now serving as pro tempore judge. He was appointed by the Indiana Supreme Court. A replacement to fill the remainder of Butler's term is scheduled to be selected by a caucus of the Republican Party at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26.
Members of the town council were insistent that the new judge be an attorney. Not all town judges are in Indiana. However, Council President Clyde South emphasized that anything passed by the council is not binding. * * *
Todd Hiday, Henry County Republican chairman, agreed that the ordinance passed by the council is not binding on the caucus.
"State law does not require such an ordinance," Hiday said Friday in a phone interview. "There is a measure being considered by the state Legislature that would require all town judges in Indiana to be attorneys. Right now they don't have to be."
The judge who is selected will serve the rest of 2011. The office will be up for election in November.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 21, 2011 02:05 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts