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 superiorcourt; 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, thecounty division of the superior court of Lake County shall maintainthe 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 otherwiseprovided 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Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.127-2008, SEC.21.)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 thecounty court. Each division must include the entire county orcounties 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 theefficient operation of the judge's court. The organizational plan mustinclude provisions to facilitate the speedy disposition of casesinvolving motorists charged with the violation of state traffic laws.
(b) The organizational plan must provide for a system of postingbond in traffic cases by designating the places where bond may beposted with due consideration given to factors of convenience to bothlaw enforcement officers and alleged offenders. (c) To facilitate the speedy disposition of cases involving trafficviolations, the organizational plan must provide for a standard trafficviolations bureau for the county court under IC 34-28-5-7 throughIC 34-28-5-10. The plan must ensure that the defendant is advised ofall rights. A judge serving more than one (1) county shall establisha 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 andregulations 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'sjurisdiction.
(4) Make proper judgments, sentences, decrees, and orders.
(5) Issue process.
(6) Perform acts necessary and proper to carry out theprovisions of this article.
(c) The judge of the county court has the same power as the judgeof a circuit court concerning the following:
(1) The attendance of witnesses.
(2) The punishment of contempts and the enforcement of thejudge's orders.
(3) The administration of oaths.
(4) The issuance of necessary certificates for the authenticationof 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 thejudge of the county court. The judge of the county court shallcoordinate the judge's schedule so that great inconvenience is notcaused to a person seeking the services of the court during thevacation period.
(c) The judge may appoint a judge pro tem to handle the court'sjudicial business during the judge's vacation or for any period thejudge considers necessary. The sitting of a judge pro tem may notbecome 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 circulardisk containing the words, "_________________ (insert name ofcounty) County Court of the State of Indiana". If a judge normally
serves more than one (1) county, there shall be a separate seal foreach county.
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.9.