Ind. Code ch. 33-33-60

in effect

Ind. Code § 33-33-60-1 Judicial circuit

Sec. 1. Owen County constitutes the seventy-eighth judicial circuit. [Pre-2004 Recodification Citation: 33-4-1-60.] As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.12. Amended by P.L.201-2011, SEC.82.

Ind. Code § 33-33-60-1.1 Expired

As added by P.L.83-2013, SEC.3. Expired 1-2-2015 by P.L.83-2013, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 33-33-60-2 Judges; jurisdiction; dockets

Sec. 2. (a) The Owen circuit court is a court of general jurisdiction with two (2) judges. The divisions of the circuit court shall be known as Owen circuit court No. 1 and Owen circuit court No. 2. Owen County constitutes the judicial district of the circuit court and each of the court's divisions. The circuit court shall maintain the following dockets: (1) A small claims and misdemeanor division under IC 33-28-3 that has a: (A) small claims docket; and (B) minor offenses and violations docket. (2) Criminal. (3) Juvenile. (4) Civil. (5) Probate. (b) The assignment of judges of the circuit court to the dockets specified in subsection (a) must be by rule of the circuit court. As added by P.L.83-2013, SEC.4.

Ind. Code § 33-33-60-3 Presiding judge; selection

Sec. 3. The judges of the Owen circuit court shall select from among themselves a presiding judge of the circuit court. As added by P.L.83-2013, SEC.5.

Ind. Code § 33-33-60-4 Concerted action by judges; majority rules

Sec. 4. When any action of the entire Owen circuit court is required, the judges of the circuit court shall act in concert. If the judges are evenly divided, the decision joined by the presiding judge controls. As added by P.L.83-2013, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 33-33-60-5 Presiding judge; duties

Sec. 5. In accordance with rules adopted by the judges of the Owen circuit court under section 6 of this chapter, the presiding judge shall do the following: (1) Ensure that the circuit court operates efficiently and judicially. (2) Annually submit to the fiscal body of Owen County a budget for the circuit court, including amounts necessary for the following: (A) The operation of the circuit's probation department. (B) The defense of indigents. (C) Maintaining an adequate legal research facility. (3) Make the appointments or selections required of a circuit or superior court judge. As added by P.L.83-2013, SEC.7.

Ind. Code § 33-33-60-6 Rules

Sec. 6. (a) The judges of the Owen circuit court shall adopt rules to provide for the administration of the circuit court, including rules governing the following: (1) Allocation of case load. (2) Legal representation for indigents. (3) Budgetary matters of the circuit court. (4) Operation of the probation department. (5) Term of administration of the presiding judge. (6) Employment and management of circuit court personnel. (7) Cooperative efforts with other courts for establishing and administering shared programs and facilities. (b) The Owen circuit court shall file with the office of judicial administration a copy of the rules adopted under this section. As added by P.L.83-2013, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.161-2018, SEC.85.

Ind. Code § 33-33-60-7 Personnel

Sec. 7. (a) Each judge of the Owen circuit court may, subject to the budget approved for the court by the fiscal body of Owen County, employ personnel necessary for the proper administration of the judge's docket. (b) Personnel employed under this section: (1) include court reporters, bailiffs, clerical staff, and any additional officers necessary for the proper administration of the circuit court; and (2) are subject to the rules concerning employment and management of circuit court personnel adopted by the Owen circuit court under section 6 of this chapter. As added by P.L.83-2013, SEC.9.

Ind. Code § 33-33-60-8 Court administrator

Sec. 8. (a) The Owen circuit court may appoint a court administrator subject to the budget approved for the circuit court by the fiscal body of Owen County. (b) A circuit court administrator appointed under this section is subject to the rules concerning employment and management of circuit court personnel adopted by the Owen circuit court under section 6(a) of this chapter. As added by P.L.83-2013, SEC.10.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/33Fetched: 10/17/2026