Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey
Plainfield Town Court, Indiana
| Local Courts |
|---|
|
| Trial courts and judges |
| Elections by state |
| Judicial selection by state |
| View courts by state: |
Ballotpedia provides comprehensive election coverage of the 100 largest cities in America by population as well as mayoral, city council, and district attorney election coverage in state capitals outside of the 100 largest cities. This page is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates.
The Plainfield Town Court resides in Indiana. Click on the links below to learn more about the court's...
Jurisdiction
This court holds the following jurisdiction:[1]
| “ | Sec. 8. (a) A town court has exclusive jurisdiction of all violations of the ordinances of the town. (b) A town court also has jurisdiction of all misdemeanors and all infractions. (c) If the town that established the town court has entered into an interlocal agreement described in IC 33-35-1-6, the town court has jurisdiction of all other ordinance violations described in the interlocal agreement.[2] |
” |
Selection method
- See also: Judicial selection in the states
- See also: Partisan elections
Judges of the town courts are elected to the court. The elections for this court are partisan contested elections. The qualifications for this court vary by town, with some requiring that judges be attorneys.[3]
Judicial elections in Indiana
- See also: Indiana judicial elections
Indiana is one of eight states that use partisan elections to initially select judges and then use retention elections to determine whether judges should remain on the bench. To read more about how states use judicial elections to select judges across the country, click here.
Primary election
In the primary, most candidates for the trial courts compete in partisan elections.
Exceptions are:
- Circuit court candidates in Vanderburgh County run in nonpartisan elections.
- Superior court candidates in Allen and Vanderburgh counties compete in nonpartisan elections.
- Judges in Lake and St. Joseph counties are appointed by the Governor and stand for retention two years into service and at the end of subsequent terms.[4]
- When a superior court vacancy occurs in Marion County, candidates are reviewed by a 14-member judicial selection committee, which sends the names of three nominees to the governor. The governor must appoint one of the nominees as judge within 60 days. At the end of a judge's term on the court, the question of the judge's retention may be placed on the general election ballot. Before a judge can stand for retention, the judge must appear before the committee to allow the committee to issue a recommendation to voters regarding the judge's suitability to continue to hold office.[5]
General election
Superior court judges in Lake and St. Joseph Counties stand for retention. All other trial court judges compete in contested races.[4][6]
If a vacancy occurs mid-term on the Indiana Supreme Court or Indiana Court of Appeals, the governor makes an appointment from names supplied by the judicial nominating commission. Vacancies on the circuit and superior courts are filled by direct governor appointment. Appointed judges must then run in the next general election, or the next general election after two years in office for supreme and appellate appointees.[6]
Unopposed candidates
If there is no contest for a judicial seat in either the primary or general election, the candidates for that seat are not placed on the primary ballot. Candidates who are unopposed in the primary, however, must still appear on the primary ballot if there is any opposition for the seat by any other party.[7]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 2022 Indiana Code, "Title 33. Courts and Court Officers Article 35. City and Town Courts Chapter 2. Judge's Powers and Jurisdiction 33-35-2-8. Town Courts; Jurisdiction," accessed May 12, 2023
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Indiana; Limited Jurisdiction Courts," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 American Judicature Society, "Judicial Selection in the States: Indiana," accessed August 29, 2017
- ↑ Indiana General Assembly, "House Bill 1036," accessed January 5, 2018
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Indiana," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Indiana General Assembly, "Indiana Code, Title 3, Article 10, Chapter 1, Section 5(a)," accessed March 21, 2014
Federal courts:
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Northern District of Indiana, Southern District of Indiana • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Northern District of Indiana, Southern District of Indiana
State courts:
Indiana Supreme Court • Indiana Court of Appeals • Indiana Tax Court • Indiana Superior Courts • Indiana Circuit Courts • Indiana City Courts • Indiana County Courts • Indiana Municipal Courts • Indiana Small Claims Courts • St. Joseph County Probate Court • Indiana Town Courts
State resources:
Courts in Indiana • Indiana judicial elections • Judicial selection in Indiana
