Indiana Superior Courts
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The U.S. State of Indiana has two types of state courts: Trial Courts and Appellate Courts. Trial courts are courts of general jurisdiction, meaning they have the power to hear any civil or criminal case. Indiana Superior Courts is one of four trial courts in Indiana State; the other three are Circuit Courts, County Courts, and City or Town Courts. The four courts have more similarities than differences in their functions.
The Superior Court is an additional court created by the Indiana General Assembly in response to the growing local need for more trial courts. Most Indiana trial courts are Superior Courts, and nearly all Indiana counties have a Superior Court in addition to their Circuit Court. The Superior Court will handle small claims and minor offenses in the absence of a county court system.{{Cite web |date=January 1, 2003 |title=The Indiana Trial Court System |url=https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/4H/4-H-971.pdf |url-status=live |website=Purdue University}}
Details
"Trial courts have different names primarily due to accidents of legislative history and local custom, not true differences in the nature or purpose of the courts. The cases these courts hear can vary tremendously from county to county."{{Cite web |last=Branch |first=Indiana Judicial |date=2020-11-09 |title=Learn about Indiana's Court System |url=https://www.in.gov/courts/about/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=Indiana Judicial Branch |language=en}} For example, in Howard County, Indiana, with a population of less than 100,000,{{Cite web |date=July 1, 2023 |title=United States Census Bureau, QuickFacts, Howard County, Indiana |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/howardcountyindiana/PST045222}} the Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases and exclusive jurisdiction over juvenile cases,{{Cite web |last=County |first=Howard |date=2023-07-19 |title=Circuit Court |url=https://www.in.gov/counties/howard/departments/circuit-court/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=Howard County |language=en}} while the Superior Court 1 primarily hears criminal drug and domestic violence cases.{{Cite web |last=County |first=Howard |date=2023-07-19 |title=Superior Court I |url=https://www.in.gov/counties/howard/departments/circuit-court/superior-court-i/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=Howard County |language=en}} By contrast, in Marion County, Indiana's largest county,{{Cite web |title=InDepth Profile: STATS Indiana |url=https://www.stats.indiana.edu/profiles/profiles.asp?scope_choice=a&county_changer=18097 |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=www.stats.indiana.edu}} the Superior Court "has jurisdiction over all criminal cases, civil issues and family case types filed in the county."{{Cite web |title=indy.gov |url=https://www.indy.gov/agency/marion-superior-court |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=www.indy.gov |language=en}}
In 2016, the Indiana Supreme Court began a Commercial Court{{Cite web |last=Services |first=Office of Court |date=2024-03-14 |title=Commercial Courts Committee |url=https://www.in.gov/courts/iocs/committees/commercial-courts/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=Office of Court Services |language=en}} Pilot Project in six county Superior Courts, appointing "Marion Superior Court Judge Heather Welch;{{Cite web |date=2023-10-25 |title=Judge Heather Welch retiring from Marion County bench, continuing career in the law - THE INDIANA CITIZEN |url=https://indianacitizen.org/judge-heather-welch-retiring-from-marion-county-bench-continuing-career-in-the-law/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |language=en-US}} Elkhart Superior Court{{Cite web |title=Courts - Elkhart County |url=https://elkhartcounty.com/en/government/courts/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=elkhartcounty.com}} Judge Stephen Bowers; Lake Superior Court{{Cite web |title=Superior Court |url=https://lakecounty.in.gov/departments/superior-court |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=lakecounty.in.gov}} Judge John Sedia; Floyd Superior Court Judge Maria Granger;{{Cite web |last=County |first=Floyd |date=2023-06-27 |title=Superior Court 3 |url=https://www.in.gov/counties/floyd/department/superior-court-3/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=Floyd County |language=en}} Vanderburgh Superior Court{{Cite web |title=Superior Court / Vanderburgh County |url=https://www.evansvillegov.org/county/department/index.php?structureid=269 |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=www.evansvillegov.org}} Judge Richard D’Amour; and Allen Superior Court{{Cite web |title=Allen Superior Court – Official Website for Allen Superior Court in Fort Wayne, Indiana |url=https://allensuperiorcourt.us/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |language=en-US}} Judge Craig Bobay."{{Cite book |last=Indiana Commercial Courts Working Group |title=Indiana Commercial Courts Handbook |year=2023 |edition=2nd |publication-date=January 31, 2023 |pages=6}} In 2020, the Supreme Court expanded the now permanentIn the Indiana Supreme Court, In Re Indiana Commercial Courts, Supreme Court Case No. 19S-MS-295, Order (May 12, 2019) Commercial Court into four more counties, three with Superior Courts (Hamilton,{{Cite web |title=Courts, Hamilton County, Indiana |url=https://www.hamiltoncounty.in.gov/189/Courts |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=www.hamiltoncounty.in.gov}} Vigo,{{Cite web |title=Vigo Superior Court Division I |url=http://www.vigocounty.in.gov/department/division.php?structureid=59 |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=Vigo County, Indiana |language=en}} and St. Joseph{{Cite web |title=Superior Court {{!}} St. Joseph County, IN |url=https://www.sjcindiana.com/264/Superior-Court |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=www.sjcindiana.com}}) and one with a Circuit Court (Madison{{Cite web |title=Court Reference, Madison County, Indiana Court Directory |url=https://www.courtreference.com/Madison-County-Indiana-Courts.htm}}).{{Cite book |last=Indiana Commercial Courts Working Group |title=Indiana Commercial Courts Handbook |year=2023 |edition=2nd |publication-date=January 31, 2023 |pages=9}}
Judges are typically elected to the Superior Court, except in limited circumstances.{{Cite web |last=Branch |first=Indiana Judicial |date=2021-08-20 |title=Judicial Selection |url=https://www.in.gov/courts/selection/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=Indiana Judicial Branch |language=en}}