CHAPTER 2. ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION
IC 33-30-2
Chapter 2. Establishment and Organization
IC 33-30-2-1
Abolishment of county courts
Sec. 1. A county court is abolished if:
(1) IC 33-33 provides a small claims docket of the circuit court;
(2) IC 33-33 provides a small claims docket of the superior
court; or
(3) IC 33-34 provides a small claims court;
for the county in which the county court was established.
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.2-2005, SEC.88;
P.L.237-2005, SEC.1; P.L.234-2007, SEC.216; P.L.127-2008,
SEC.7.
IC 33-30-2-2
Lake County
Sec. 2. Lake County does not have a county court. However, the
county division of the superior court of Lake County shall maintain
the dockets described in IC 33-30-5-2.
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.2-2005, SEC.89;
P.L.1-2007, SEC.215.
IC 33-30-2-3
Judge
Sec. 3. Each county court has one (1) judge except as otherwise
provided in this chapter.
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.9.
IC 33-30-2-4
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.127-2008, SEC.21.)
IC 33-30-2-5
Divisions
Sec. 5. There must be one (1) division for each judge of the
county court. Each division must include the entire county or
counties the judge normally serves.
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.9.
IC 33-30-2-6
Organizational plan
Sec. 6. (a) The judge shall formulate an organizational plan for the
efficient operation of the judge's court. The organizational plan must
include provisions to facilitate the speedy disposition of cases
involving motorists charged with the violation of state traffic laws.
(b) The organizational plan must provide for a system of posting
bond in traffic cases by designating the places where bond may be
posted with due consideration given to factors of convenience to both
law enforcement officers and alleged offenders.
(c) To facilitate the speedy disposition of cases involving traffic
violations, the organizational plan must provide for a standard traffic
violations bureau for the county court under IC 34-28-5-7 through
IC 34-28-5-10. The plan must ensure that the defendant is advised of
all rights. A judge serving more than one (1) county shall establish
a traffic violations bureau in each county.
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.9.
IC 33-30-2-7
Judicial powers
Sec. 7. (a) A judge of a county court may adopt rules and
regulations for conducting the business of the court.
(b) The judge of the county court may do the following:
(1) Perform marriages.
(2) Issue warrants.
(3) Issue and direct a process necessary in exercising the court's
jurisdiction.
(4) Make proper judgments, sentences, decrees, and orders.
(5) Issue process.
(6) Perform acts necessary and proper to carry out the
provisions of this article.
(c) The judge of the county court has the same power as the judge
of a circuit court concerning the following:
(1) The attendance of witnesses.
(2) The punishment of contempts and the enforcement of the
judge's orders.
(3) The administration of oaths.
(4) The issuance of necessary certificates for the authentication
of the records and proceedings of the court.
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.9.
IC 33-30-2-8
Terms of court; vacation of judges
Sec. 8. (a) A county court shall meet in continuous session.
(b) A vacation of one (1) month per year shall be provided for the
judge of the county court. The judge of the county court shall
coordinate the judge's schedule so that great inconvenience is not
caused to a person seeking the services of the court during the
vacation period.
(c) The judge may appoint a judge pro tem to handle the court's
judicial business during the judge's vacation or for any period the
judge considers necessary. The sitting of a judge pro tem may not
become a standard practice of the court.
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.9.
IC 33-30-2-9
Seal
Sec. 9. A county court shall have a seal consisting of a circular
disk containing the words, "_________________ (insert name of
county) County Court of the State of Indiana". If a judge normally
serves more than one (1) county, there shall be a separate seal for
each county.
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.9.