CHAPTER 3. SENIOR JUDGES
IC 33-23-3
Chapter 3. Senior Judges
IC 33-23-3-1
Application for senior judge appointment
Sec. 1. (a) A circuit court, a superior court, a county court, a
probate court, the tax court, or the court of appeals may apply to the
supreme court for the appointment of a senior judge to serve the
court.
(b) The application submitted under this section must include the
following:
(1) Reasons for the request.
(2) Estimated duration of the need for a senior judge.
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.32-2005, SEC.1.
IC 33-23-3-2
Approval of application; appointment
Sec. 2. Upon approving the request by a circuit court, a superior
court, a county court, a probate court, the tax court, or the court of
appeals for a senior judge, the supreme court may appoint a senior
judge to serve that court for the duration specified in the application
submitted under section 1 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.32-2005, SEC.2.
IC 33-23-3-3
Service of senior judge
Sec. 3. A senior judge:
(1) exercises the jurisdiction granted to the court served by the
senior judge;
(2) may serve as a domestic relations mediator, subject to the
code of judicial conduct;
(3) serves at the pleasure of the supreme court; and
(4) serves in accordance with rules adopted by the supreme
court under IC 33-24-3-7.
A senior judge serving as a domestic relations mediator is not
entitled to reimbursement or a per diem under section 5 of this
chapter. A senior judge serving as a domestic relations mediator may
receive compensation from the alternative dispute resolution fund
under IC 33-23-6 in accordance with the county domestic relations
alternative dispute resolution plan.
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.2.
IC 33-23-3-4
Assignment to serve; acceptance; rejection
Sec. 4. The supreme court may not require a senior judge to
accept an assignment to serve a circuit court, a superior court, a
county court, a probate court, the tax court, or the court of appeals.
If a senior judge declines an assignment to serve, the supreme court
may offer the senior judge subsequent assignments to serve a circuit
court, a superior court, a county court, a probate court, the tax court,
or the court of appeals.
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.32-2005, SEC.3.
IC 33-23-3-5
Compensation
Sec. 5. (a) A senior judge is entitled to the following
compensation:
(1) For each of the first thirty (30) days of service in a calendar
year, a per diem of one hundred dollars ($100).
(2) Except as provided in subsection (c), for each day the senior
judge serves after serving the first thirty (30) days of service in
a calendar year, a per diem of two hundred fifty dollars ($250).
(3) Reimbursement for:
(A) mileage; and
(B) reasonable expenses, including but not limited to meals
and lodging, incurred in performing service as a senior
judge;
for each day served as a senior judge.
(b) Subject to subsection (c), the per diem and reimbursement for
mileage and reasonable expenses under subsection (a) shall be paid
by the state.
(c) The compensation under subsection (a)(2) must be paid by the
state from funds appropriated to the supreme court for judicial
payroll. If the payroll fund is insufficient to pay the compensation
under subsection (a)(2), the supreme court may issue an order
adjusting the compensation rate.
(d) A senior judge appointed under this chapter may not be
compensated as a senior judge for more than one hundred (100) total
calendar days during a calendar year.
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.246-2005,
SEC.220; P.L.119-2007, SEC.1.