Ind. Code ch. 33-33-53

in effect

Ind. Code § 33-33-53-1 Judicial circuit; judges; court abolishment

Sec. 1. (a) Monroe County constitutes the tenth judicial circuit. (b) There are nine (9) judges of the Monroe circuit court. This subsection expires December 31, 2026. (c) Beginning January 1, 2027, there are eight (8) judges of the Monroe circuit court. (d) Monroe County circuit court division 2, seat 6 is abolished on December 31, 2026. [Pre-2004 Recodification Citation: 33-4-1-53.] As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.12. Amended by P.L.237-2005, SEC.20; P.L.224-2025, SEC.12.

Ind. Code § 33-33-53-2 Circuit court jurisdiction; dockets

Sec. 2. (a) The Monroe circuit court is a court of general jurisdiction and shall maintain the following dockets: (1) Small claims. (2) Minor offenses and violations. (3) Criminal. (4) Juvenile. (5) Civil. (6) Probate. (b) The assignment of judges of the court to the dockets specified in subsection (a) must be by rule of the court. [Pre-2004 Recodification Citation: 33-4-10-1.] As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.12.

Ind. Code § 33-33-53-2.5 Filing name and seat designation of judge of court for election purposes

Sec. 2.5. Not later than December 31 of the year immediately preceding a year in which the office of judge of the Monroe circuit court will be on the ballot, the clerk of the circuit court shall file with the election division a list containing the name and seat designation for each judge of the Monroe circuit court. As added by P.L.169-2015, SEC.167.

Ind. Code § 33-33-53-3 Presiding judge

Sec. 3. The judges of the Monroe circuit court shall select from among themselves a presiding judge of the court. [Pre-2004 Recodification Citation: 33-4-10-3.] As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.12.

Ind. Code § 33-33-53-4 Concerted action of judges; majority rule; controlling vote

Sec. 4. When any action of the entire court is required, including selection of a presiding judge under section 3 of this chapter and adoption of rules under section 6 of this chapter, the judges of the court shall act in concert. If the judges disagree, the decision of the majority of the judges controls. If the judges are evenly divided, the decision joined by the presiding judge controls. [Pre-2004 Recodification Citation: 33-4-10-4.] As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.12.

Ind. Code § 33-33-53-5 Presiding judge; duties

Sec. 5. In accordance with rules adopted by the judges of the court under section 6 of this chapter, the presiding judge shall do the following: (1) Ensure that the court operates efficiently and judicially under rules adopted by the court. (2) Annually submit to the fiscal body of Monroe County a budget for the court, including amounts necessary for: (A) the operation of the circuit's probation department; (B) the defense of indigents; and (C) maintaining an adequate law library. (3) Make the appointments or selections required of a circuit or superior court judge under the following statutes: IC 8-4-21-2 IC 11-12-2-2 IC 16-22-2-4 IC 16-22-2-11 IC 16-22-7 IC 20-23-4 IC 20-23-7-6 IC 20-23-7-8.1 IC 20-26-7-8 IC 20-26-7-14 IC 20-47-2-15 IC 20-47-3-13 IC 36-9 IC 36-10 IC 36-12-10-10. (4) Make appointments or selections required of a circuit or superior court judge by any other statute, if the appointment or selection is not required of the court because of an action before the court. [Pre-2004 Recodification Citation: 33-4-10-5.] As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.12. Amended by P.L.1-2005, SEC.217; P.L.231-2005, SEC.50; P.L.1-2006, SEC.505; P.L.2-2006, SEC.183; P.L.179-2011, SEC.33.

Ind. Code § 33-33-53-6 Rules for administration of court

Sec. 6. (a) The judges of the court shall adopt rules to provide for the administration of the court, including rules governing the following: (1) Allocation of case load. (2) Legal representation for indigents. (3) Budgetary matters of the court. (4) Operation of the probation department. (5) Term of administration of the presiding judge. (6) Employment and management of court personnel. (7) Cooperative efforts with other courts for establishing and administering shared programs and facilities. (b) The court shall file with the office of judicial administration a copy of the rules adopted under this section. [Pre-2004 Recodification Citation: 33-4-10-6.] As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.12. Amended by P.L.161-2018, SEC.84.

Ind. Code § 33-33-53-7 Personnel

Sec. 7. (a) Each judge of the court may, subject to the budget approved for the court by the fiscal body of Monroe County, employ personnel necessary for the proper administration of the court. (b) Personnel employed under this section: (1) include court reporters, bailiffs, clerical staff, and any additional officers necessary for the proper administration of the court; and (2) are subject to the rules concerning employment and management of court personnel adopted by the court under section 6 of this chapter. [Pre-2004 Recodification Citation: 33-4-10-7.] As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.12.

Ind. Code § 33-33-53-8 Court administrator

Sec. 8. (a) The court may appoint a court administrator subject to the budget approved for the court by the fiscal body of Monroe County. (b) A court administrator appointed under this section is subject to the rules concerning employment and management of court personnel adopted by the court under section 6 of this chapter. [Pre-2004 Recodification Citation: 33-4-10-8.] As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.12.

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